After weeks of speculation, the challenger to International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. has finally been named.
Donaire?s father, Nonito Sr., revealed that his son will make his first title defense against one-time world challenger Luis Maldonado of Mexico on December 1 at the Foxwoods Hotel and Casino in Connecticut.
The elder Donaire said Maldonado, 29, gained the title shot after winning a lopsided decision over Sergio Espinoza in an IBF title eliminator in the weekend.
Several web sites reported about Donaire?s next opponent but they all turned out to be unsubstantiated after Donaire Sr.?s confirmation.
The names of Mexican superstar Jorge Arce, super-flyweight world champions Cristian Mijares and Fernando Montiel and Vic Darchinyan, the man Donaire unseated, all cropped up as possible flyweight challengers.
In the end, Maldonado (37-1-1, 28 KO?s) will get the title shot.
?Veteran na din sa title fights si Maldonado and we feel na magandang challenge na din ito for Junjun [Donaire Jr.?s nickname] for his first title defense,? the father said.
Donaire (18-1, 11 knockouts) is coming off a scintillating single-punch, fifth-round technical-knockout win over erstwhile champ Darchinyan on July 7 at the Harbour Yard Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Donaire, 24, plans to stage his training camp at the famed ALA Boxing Gym in Mandaue City by the end of this month.
Yesterday, Donaire, who is based in San Leandro, California, sparred for 10 rounds against three boxers including his older brother Glenn.
Meanwhile, the future of IBF minimumweight ruler Florante Condes remains uncertain.
After supposedly settling his team?s problems with their American promotional partners, Filipino manager Aljoe Jaro last week hired two US-based Filipino lawyers to work on rescinding their American deal.
The lawyers are Edmund Anciano and Anthony Wilaras.
Jaro said he has given their partners, represented by Cezar Trevino, enough time to strike a deal regarding Condes?s next fight.
?Sabi nila pupunta sila dito sa Pilipinas ulit para pag-usapan ?yung problema namin pero hindi naman sila dumating,? disclosed Jaro ?Nung nasa Las Vegas ako hindi din sila nagpakita kaya nag-decide na ako na kumuha ng lawyer.?
Jaro returned to the country early this week from Las Vegas where he joined his ward Bernabe Concepcion who won another bout to remain unscathed in his US campaign.
Jaro said he still plans to stage Condes?s first title defense in the Philippines before the end of the year possibly against former champion Muhammad Rachman of Indonesia.
Condes defeated Rachman to win the IBF throne on July 7 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
