By Jim Dower: Super flyweight Nonito Donaire (24-1, 16 KO’s) is missing out on Showtime’s bantamweight tournament due to the money not being right and because Donaire’s promoter didn’t like the format, according to boxing news from the Los Angeles Times. Instead of fighting in the bantamweight tourney and getting a lot of visibility and positive press if he were to win the tourney, Donaire instead will be facing a struggling Wladimir Sidorenko (22-2-2, 7 KO’s) on December 4th at the Honda Center, in Anaheim, California. If Donaire is successful in beating Sidorenko, Donaire’s promoter Bob Arum wants to put him in with Fernando Montiel next year on February 19th.
Donaire wanted to take part in the bantamweight tournament, which consists of Vic Darchinyan, Abner Mares, Yonnhy Perez and Joseph Agbeko. However, now that Arum has set Donaire up with a fight against Montiel, he’s no longer upset about missing out on the tourney. It may be that the tournament needs more fighters than just four in order for the tournament to have the same clout as Showtimes’ Super Six tournament. Donaire will be making $300,000 for his fight against Sidorenko, whereas he would have made only $150,00 for his first fight in the bantamweight tourney. Donaire says that the tournament winner can fight the winner of his fight with Montiel next year. That might not be an easy fight to put together if Mares wins the tournament because he fights for Golden Boy Promotions and Donaire for Top Rank.
Donaire has done almost zero for the past three years since beating Darchinyan in 2007. Donaire hasn’t been put in with any big named fighters during all that time and has had to move up in weight as he’s filled out. Montiel will be Donaire’s first big fight since the Darchinyan bout. Hopefully, it won’t be the last big fight of his career. Donaire can’t afford another three year wait for a big fight.
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