It appears Nonito Donaire will be fighting at AT&T Park in San Francisco on Aug. 22. Philippines boxing reporter-eminence Ronnie Nathanielsz quotes Donaire?s promoter Bob Arum in his report on the Donaire card. It?s a solid report.
But it isn?t a done deal, an AT&T Park spokesman told me. ?There is no fight scheduled on that date,? he said. But that doesn?t mean there won?t be. The San Francisco Giants are on the road that night, and the boxing card is fully plausible. Here?s the Manila Bulletin version of the story.
As Donaire told me April 20, Jose ?Carita? Lopez (39-7, 32 knockouts) will defend his WBO 115-pound title against Donaire (21-1, 14 knockouts), who will abdicate his IBF belt at 112. Lopez and Donaire had been matched tentatively for this spring, but Lopez?s commitment to fight Pramuansak Posuwan for the WBO belt led to Donaire?s four-round knockout of Raul Martinez instead.
Donaire, of San Leandro, is back in the Philippines as we speak at command request, as President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is leading a national celebration of Manny Pacquiao?s accomplishments Monday.
It?s my task to reach him, manager Cameron Dunkin or Arum and find out what?s happening.
