LAS VEGAS ? Fresh from inking a three-year contract with Top Rank, IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. said yesterday he?s ready to relinquish his crown for the chance to battle Mexican veteran Jorge (Travieso) Arce in a superflyweight title eliminator, tentatively on Sept. 13.
Donaire said manager Cameron Dunkin is now negotiating his next fight with Top Rank chairman Bob Arum and it will likely be against Arce, a Mexican dervish known for his gladiator mentality.
?I?ll be ready to fight whomever Cameron and Bob put in front of me,? said Donaire who is set to get married to fiancee Rachel Marcial in a private beach ceremony in Carmel, California, early next month.
Donaire was on the Solar three-man broadcast panel that covered the Manny Pacquiao-David Diaz fight at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino here Saturday night. After Pacquiao disposed of Diaz, Donaire threw some punches in the air and said, ?I?m inspired, I can?t wait to get back in the ring.?
Donaire, 25, hasn?t fought since halting Luis Maldonado in his first title defense in Connecticut last December. A few days ago, he signed a three-year pact with Top Rank and received a five-figure signing bonus.
The contract stipulates at least three bouts a year for the next three years with a minimum purse of $250,000 each.Top Rank reserves the option to extend the pact to a fourth year.
Donaire said if the Arce fight pushes through, his purse could go up to as high as $500,000 because of its high marketability. Top Rank is planning a double main event card where the other attraction will pit WBC superflyweight champion Cristian Mijares against WBO titlist Fernando Montiel in a unification bout. The fight is contingent on Montiel retaining his crown against Jose Lopez on July 26.
The blockbuster card could take place in Las Vegas, Mexico City or even Manila.
A source said Pacquiao is interested to promote Donaire?s next fight in Manila even with a budget of $1 Million for both the Filipino and Arce.
?Arce?s not the same fighter he was years ago when he fought guys like Michael Carbajal,? said Donaire. ?But he?s still tough and very exciting. He?s shorter. My goal is to fight only the best to prove myself. I have no problem fighting at 112 but if the opportunity comes to fight at 115, I?ll take it.?
Donaire said Arce is easy to hit.
?Arce has an overly large head which is a huge target,? said Donaire. ?I know I have to be at my best to beat him. I?m looking forward to a big fight. This will be my first with Top Rank so I?m out to make a big impression.?
For his part, Arce said Donaire won?t be a problem.
?He?s strong but he?s not an extraordinary fighter,? said Arce who flew in from Mexico with his wife Karime to watch the Pacquiao-Diaz fight.
Arce said he is dedicating his march to a second world title to his four-month-old daughter, also named Karime.
Arce, 28, was once the WBC lightflyweight champion. He also held the interim WBC flyweight title but was never enthroned. In April last year, Arce lost to Mijares in a bid for the 115-pound crown. He has bounced back to win three in a row, including a first round stoppage of Medgeon 3-K Battery who halted Pacquiao in a WBC flyweight title bout in 1999.
Donaire said he is thankful to his previous promoter Gary Shaw for the crack at the IBF flyweight crown. Shaw arranged Donaire?s fight against Vic Darchinyan for the IBF title last year. Donaire, a heavy underdog, knocked out the previously unbeaten Darchinyan, who belongs to Shaw?s stable, with a single punch in the fifth round.
Donaire said he is helping out his father Nonito, Sr. in training older brother Glen who meets IBF lightflyweight champion Ulises Solis in Sonora, Mexico, on July 12.
