Glenn 'The Filipino Bomber' Donaire will challenge IBF light flyweight champion Ulises 'Archie' Solis on May 17 in Aguascalientes, Mexico. Glenn, the elder brother of IBF/IBO flyweight champion Nonito, Jr., became a last minute replacement after Juanito Rubillar backed out from his scheduled fight with Solis and a proposal to match up Aljoe Jaro's boxer Denver Cuello with Solis was scuttled at the last minute.
The Solis-Rubillar title showdown was originally scheduled to take place in Dubai on April 18 but after the card was cancelled, the fight was moved to May 17 in Mexico through the efforts of matchmaker Sampson Lewkowicz and promoter Samson Gello-ani. Rubillar's manager Bebot Elorde later withdrew his fighter out of the May 17 title fight with Solis and instead opted to have Rubillar fight Omar Nino of Mexico, for an eliminator for the WBC lightfly title currently held by Edgar Sosa, also of Mexico.
After Rubillar was taken out of the picture, Gello-ani had negotiated to have RP minifly champion Denver Cuello take Rubillar's place and everything appeared to be all set when Michael Koncz, who is involve in the management of Jaro's other boxer Bernabe Concepcion had questioned Cuello's qualification with the IBF. The IBF in turn withdrew its sanction for the Solis-Cuello fight effectively scuttling the match up. According to Gello-ani, Koncz might be thinking that he was to represent all of Jaro's boxers even without a contract and when he was left out of the Cuello-Solis negotiation he made some noise to the consternation of Aljoe Jaro and others concerned.
Rubillar's and Cuello's losses were Glenn Donaire's gain as he is now in a position to snatch a world title after a previous failed attempt in 2006 against Vic Darchinyan.
Solis whose last two successful defenses were against Filipinos in Rodel Mayol and Bert Batawang, has now a long history of an on and off again fights with Filipino fighters. Last year, Solis was supposed to fight Bert Batawang originally on a September date that finally cultiminated on Dec. 15. This year, Solis is looking at two dates and three Filipino fighters. Hopefully, nothing will come up to again derail the fight between now and May 17.
The Solis-Donaire fight will be an undercard of the Jorge "Travieso" Arce vs Devid Lookmahanak bantamweight battle.
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