Donaire, Viloria fights in the works
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 06/18/2009 12:14 PM
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International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Nonito Donaire is set to relinquish his title to battle for a World Boxing Association (WBA) belt in August, Fightnews.com reported.
Fightnews’ Nick Giongco cited Hall of Fame promoter and Top Rank head honcho Bob Arum, who revealed to the boxing news website that Donaire will aim to win the soon-to-be-vacated WBA super flyweight crown on Aug. 15.
Donaire, also called “The Filipino Flash,” will have his next fight at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Arum noted that the Aug. 15 event will have a supporting bout for the WBO featherweight title featuring Filipino Abe Concepcion and Mexican-American Steven Luevano, the titleholder.
Concepcion and Luevano were supposed to clash in the undercard of the Pacquiao-Hatton fight on May 2. But the bout was postponed because Luevano suffered an injury.
Meanwhile, Brian “Hawaiian Punch” Viloria is scheduled to defend his International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight title in September, Arum added. The fight will be held in Cebu City, Philippines.
Both Viloria and Donaire posted victories in a co-main event held on April 19 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Viloria knocked out Mexico’s Ulises Solis in the 11th round to become the new IBF light flyweight champion, while Donaire defended his flyweight title via technical knockout in Round 4 of his fight against Raul Martinez.
Arum, meantime, also mentioned that a rematch between Rodel Mayol and WBO light flyweight champ Ivan Calderon could take place along with the Viloria fight.
Calderon retained his WBO belt due to a technical draw with Mayol last Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the Madison Square Garden in New York.
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