Donaire vs. Vazquez Jr. a possibility for March 3rd for vacant WBO super bantamweight title

By Boxing News - 12/01/2011 - Comments

Image: Donaire vs. Vazquez Jr. a possibility for March 3rd for vacant WBO super bantamweight titleBy Jason Kim: According to the latest boxing news, WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (27-1, 18 KOs) could be moving up in weight to challenge Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. (21-1, 18 KO’s) for the vacant WBO super bantamweight crown on March 3rd next year.

The title, which at one time belonged to Vazquez Jr., was recently vacated by Jorge Arce recently. This leaves it open for Donaire and Vazquez Jr. to now fight over it if the fight can be made.

Donaire, 29, hasn’t done much since beating Fernando Montiel to capture the WBC/WBO bantamweight titles last February. Donaire attempted to leave his promotional company Top Rank after that, but after many months out of action, he opted to stay with them and fought last October and beat super flyweight Omar Narvaez by a disappointing 12 round decision.

Donaire looked bad in the fight and couldn’t break through the solid defense of the 36-year-old Narvarez. Although Donaire’s promoter Bob Arum had high hopes for Donaire accomplishing big things at bantamweight, it’s been a waste of time aside from the Montiel fight.

Donaire needs to move up in weight to the super bantamweight division and/or lightweight divisions if he wants to get big fights, because there just isn’t anything for Donaire at bantamweight. Ideally, Donaire could in theory fight Abner Mares, the IBF bantamweight champion, but it’s not something that will ever happen because Donaire fights for Top Rank and Mares for Golden Boy Promotions.

Unless Donaire is interested in fighting Joseph Agbeko or Yonnhiy Perez, he needs to move up in weight to the super bantamweight division and go after Vazquez Jr., Rico Ramos, Guillermo Rigondeaux or Toshiaki Nishoka. You kind of dismiss Rigondeaux from the equation, though, because Arum doesn’t seem eager to match Donaire against this skillful counter puncher. He’d be problems for Donaire with his body punching, his southpaw stance and his technical skills. Arum is high on Donaire but he also realizes his limitations. Rigondeaux would be a nightmare for Donaire.

Vazquez Jr. was stopped by Arce in the 12th round last May after running out of gas. Vazquez Jr. has since won his last fight against journeyman Roberto Carlos Leyva.



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