Tonight’s Fernando Montiel-Nonito Donaire bantamweight championship, set to take place at the Mandalay Bay, is just hours away and the buzz seems to be building from the minute. It’s hard to think of a more compelling blend of styles in the sport, given the great talent, atheltic abiliy and power between the two stylistic champions. Serving as somewhat of an apetizer to tonight’s card, Top Rank held a brief press conference and luncheon inside of the Italian restaurant Lupo’s earlier today. The purpose of the presser was to drum up a little bit of interest in some of the other stars from their stable who have upcoming assignments.
WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez was in the building, as the Rio Piedras, Puerto Ricoan star has seemed to make Las Vegas his home away from home these days. Lopez has an April 16th assignment on his homeland against former IBF champion Orlando Salido coming up in the city of San Juan.
WBO junior flyweight champion Giovanni Segura and former champion Ivan Calderon were also present, as they recently agreed to terms on an anticipated April 2nd rematch in Campeche, Mexico. Last year Segura broke down Calderon for an 8th round stoppage in his defining moment as a professional thus far.
On May 7th Manny Pacquiao defends his WBO welterweight crown against Shane Mosley at the nearby MGM Grand. On the undercard, WBO junior featherweight champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. faces off with always-game Jorge Arce while WBC lightweight king Humberto Soto meets up with Urbano Antillon in a rematch of one of last year’s finest fights.
Promoter Bob Arum told the assembled press that while he often doesn’t listen to what the media has to say, he did feel it was important to add a solid undercard to the May 7th event.
Vazquez, Arce and Antillon were in attendance but Soto was reportedly still in Mexico, getting ready for a March 25th date with Fidel Munoz in Nayarit, Mexico.
For a behind-the-scenes look at Juan Manuel Lopez, Wilfredo Vazquez Jr., Jorge Arce, Urbano Antillon, Giovani Segura and Ivan Calderon, pleae continue on to the slideshow on the left or click HERE
One day earlier it was a jam-packed scene inside the Mizuya lounge inside the Mandalay Bay as Montiel and Donaire made weight. For a look at all the action please continue on to Behind the scenes at the Montiel-Donaire weigh-in
