By Dan Ambrose: WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (28-1, 18 KO’s) hand-picked his next opponent IBF super bantamweight champion Jeffry Mathebula (26-3-2, 14 KO’s) because he likes his brawling style of fighting and he thinks their bout on July 7th will make for an exciting bout. Donaire and Mathebula, 32, will be facing each other at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

Donaire’s manager Cameron Dunkin said this to ESPN “It’s a fight that Nonito asked for. Nonito thought this guy was a great fighter and would push him to the limit.”

Donaire said “I want something that will fire me up and this guy presents me with a challenge.”

It sounds like Donaire wanted someone that is tailor made for him and will rush forward so that he can pick him off like he did against the wide open Vic Darchinyan in Donaire’s 5th round TKO win in July 2007. Donaire hasn’t had any easy marks lately, as he’s fought two boxer/punchers in Omar Narvaez and Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. and Donaire has looked awful in both fights. Now it looks like Donaire wants a guaranteed wide open fighter that will enable him to land his shots.

I’ve seen several of Mathebula’s fights, and I agree that he makes it exciting, but I think he’s a very limited fighter, a step below Narvaez and Vazquez Jr. Mathebula does hold down the IBF title right now at super bantamweight, but I see him as a paper champion rather than a genuine champ.

It’s interesting that Donaire isn’t eager to face the best fighter at super bantamweight in WBA champion Guillermo Rigondeaux, because this is the guy that boxing fans by and large sees as the best in the division. Donaire unfortunately doesn’t want to fight Rigondeaux. I guess it’s tough when you’re trying to follow in the big footsteps of Manny Pacquiao. Donaire can’t just take any fight, because the chances are too high he’ll get beaten by certain fighters like Rigondeaux and Abner Mares.