Nonito Donaire Jr. and Brian Viloria faced separate opponents in “Pinoy Power: The Flash and the Furious” which was a huge box office success at the Araneta Coliseum last April.
Last Saturday night, Donaire headlined a card billed “Pinoy Power 2” at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Sharing the spotlight with Donaire were other Filipino fighters Bernabe Concepcion and Mark Jason Melligen.
Now, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum is conjuring visions of “Pinoy Power 3,” tentatively on Dec. 12, with Donaire and Viloria reuniting to appear in co-main events.
Asked if the December card would pale in comparison to the Nov. 14 bill featuring Manny Pacquiao against Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, Arum jokingly pretended not to know about the coming WBO welterweight title bout._”What card in November?” said Arum before breaking out into a laugh.
Clearly, Arum is enamored with Filipino fighters just as he once was with Mexicans. Aside from Pacquiao, he is high on Donaire whom he believes will become a multi-divisional champion like Pacquiao. Donaire just won the interim WBA superflyweight crown to add to his IBF and IBO flyweight titles and recently said he plans to move from class to class up to lightweight.
The problem is Donaire hurt his hand in scoring a unanimous 12-round decision over rugged Rafael Concepcion of Panama and it’s not certain how soon he’ll be able to fight again.
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Donaire arrived in Manila yesterday and will consult orthopaedic specialist Dr. Raul (George) Canlas on the damage in his left hand. X-rays and other tests will be conducted to determine the extent of the injury.
Donaire said he expects the hand to be completely healed in two months after which he could resume rigid training. If he trains hard enough, Donaire said a December fight is a possibility. He said he plans to go back to the gym for light workouts in two weeks to keep in shape, possibly in Baguio.
Two fighters who are in Donaire’s sights are Fernando Montiel and Jorge Arce.
“I want to test myself against the great Mexican warriors,” said Donaire. “I’m moving up in weight and will be at par with Montiel or Arce. It won’t be like when I gave up over 15 pounds to Concepcion. Because he was so much bigger, I tried to box outside and stay away from close range fighting. He played mind games with me and for a while, I doubted my ability to take him out as it was clear he could take my power.”
Arum said the possibility of Donaire taking on Arce, who holds a technical knockout win over Concepcion, is intriguing and hinted he would work on making it happen. But that’s assuming Donaire’s left hand will heal properly and quickly.
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As for Viloria, he will make the first defense of his IBF lightflyweight crown against Mexican Jesus Iribe in Honolulu on Aug. 29. Viloria took a few days off from training to join Al Bernstein and Mario Lopez on the three-man ringside panel that broadcast “Pinoy Power 2” for the world TV feed.
“I’ve watched Iribe on tape and my thinking is he’s a cross between (Ulises) Solis and (Ivan) Calderon,” said Viloria. “He’s a good boxer. I’m not too sure of his power. He’s not as slick as Solis. I’m preparing for Iribe like I’m preparing for a Solis, even harder.”
Viloria said Calderon is his dream opponent but the Puerto Rican has to get by Filipino challenger Rodel Mayol in a rematch before lining up for a shot.
“I’ve been training 2 1/2 months with Robert (Garcia) at Oxnard and it’s been a great camp,” he said. “I’ve been sparring with a lot of amateurs to get me ready for Iribe’s speed. Eventually, I’ll move up to my natural weight division, flyweight, where I think I have more power. I don’t think I’ll continue to kill myself dieting and trying to make 108 when my body is evolving to 112.”
Viloria said he’s not certain when he can visit Manila again but hopes it’s soon.
“Next time I come with (girlfriend) Erika (Navarro), I just want to relax and take a vacation,” he said. “I want to visit my relatives in Ilocos Sur and not have anything to do with boxing.”
Viloria anticipated what would happen in the Steven Luevano-Bernabe Concepcion fight for the WBO welterweight title here Saturday night. Luevano and Viloria train together at the La Colonia Gym in Oxnard with Garcia.
“Steven is a thinking fighter,” he said. “He frustrated Concepcion until he did something crazy.” Concepcion hit Luevano after the bell ending the seventh round and was disqualified outright.
The consensus was Concepcion punched Luevano after the bell out of sheer exasperation as he could hardly put a glove on the slick southpaw.
