While the Nonito Donaire-Toshiaki Nishioka matchup got off to a slow start on Saturday night, the bout?s ending was far more exhilarating.
Overcoming a tepid approach from his Japanese foe early on, Donaire registered knockdowns in rounds six and nine as he ended the fight inside of the distance in front of packed crowd inside of the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. View slideshow: PHOTOS – Nonito Donaire lights up Nishioka in Carson, plus images from the wild Rios-Alvarado barnburner
Speaking on his fighter?s performance shortly after his victory, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum offered praise.
?Donaire, I thought was unbelievably great,? Arum stated. ?Unbelievably smart, clever, against a top 122-pounder. I thought Nonito was superb.?
During the week leading up to the fight, I had noticed Arum mentioning WBC champion Abner Mares as a potential foe for Donaire sometime next year.
Video: Bob Arum says Nonito Donaire was superb against Toshiaki Nishioka
Such a scenario might not be easy to envision, due to a few factors. For one, Mares is lined up with a very tough fight on November 10th when he faces WBA bantamweight champion Anselmo Moreno inside of the Staples Center in Los Angeles, and two, he is currently promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, who is presently in a bit of a cold war with Top Rank.
Arum then revealed why all that could change come 2013.
?Well, if Mares wins the fight, his contract is expiring with Golden Boy and so he can do that fight,? stated Arum.
It?s worth noting that Mares is managed by Frank Espinoza. And while the core group of Espinoza?s fighters are aligned with Golden Boy, he recently oversaw his latest signee, two-time Mexican Olympian Oscar Valdez, ink a pact with Top Rank.
Still, a Donaire-Mares encounter would likely be several months down the road. As Arum points out, Top Rank already has some names under their umbrella that could keep the ?Filipino Flash? busy in the meantime.
?And there?s [Guillermo] Rigondeaux out there and there?s [Jorge] Arce. Those are three guys that Nonito can fight,? Arum added.
