Physician, heal thyself.
That was Nonito Donaire Jr. promoter Bob Arum’s attitude when I spoke to him about Philippine Star’s report (veteran fight scribe Joaquin Henson) that talks may be starting for the “Filipino Flash” to go to Tokyo for a big money title unification bout against WBA bantamweight kingpin Koki Kameda.
Henson’s report centered on Donaire pal Dr. Osamu Kato, who “phoned Japanese promoter Akihiko Honda the other night to suggest the possibility of a unification showdown in Tokyo. The call was made while Dr. Kato had dinner with Donaire and his wife Rachel in Las Vegas. Dr. Kato was in town to witness Donaire?s second round demolition of Fernando Montiel last Saturday.
HEAR WHITE GORILLA MICHAEL MARLEY PONTIFICATE ON DONAIRE VAPORIZING MONTIEL, ETC. ON BOXINGTRUTH RADIO PROGRAM.
?It was very exploratory but a purse range of $500,000 to $800,000 was mentioned.?
Arum, speaking by phone from Las Vegas, said that Dr. Kato is probaly well meaning but is targeting the wrong person in speaking to the well respected Honda-San.
Honda-San has been Japan’s equivalent of Bob Arum plus Don King for decades and is a social and business friend of longstanding to Arum.
(See also Mr. Henson on Donaire’s behind the scenes support team.)
But, here’s the catch, Arum said Honda does not represent champion Kameda.
“There’s no credibility in this. Honda does not handle KameDa, a rival group in Japan does that,” Arum said. “Coincidentally, Todd (duBoef, Top Rank president) had lunch here with Honda the other day. They didn’t discuss Kameda because Honda doesn’t have the guy.
“This can a huge fight down the line, maybe by the end of the year. As far as Nonito going to Japan, well why not?
“You can take decision away from somebody but the way Nonito hits. When Nonito hits a guy, he hurts him so that is not a concern.” Arum said.
(Turns out that Kameda, eldest of three boxing brothers along with Daiki and Tomoki, is a trash talking southpaw who can really fight. His only loss was to the great Thai flyweight king, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam and his record is 24-1 with 15 knockouts. His career is handled by Kusnoki Miyoshi Promotions. Kameda , age 24, won the WBA version title Dec. 26 in Saitama, Japan, with a UD12 over Alexander Munoz, 35-4 with 27 KOs. Munoz was 7-0 against Japanese foes until he ran into Kameda.)
Arum said his South Florida co-promotional work with Don King, the two “Sunshine Boys” hyping their March 12 Ricardo Mayorga-Miguel Cotto show, has been a nostalgic experience so far.
“We’re getting the publicity, we’re going on radio and doing it all together,” Arum said of his also age 79 historic archrival who handles Mayorga. “It’s truly been enjoyable.”
King told Arum and some media types that Floyd Mayweather Jr., a birthday boy Thursday (he turned 34), had phoned him again.
“Don said that Floyd might come visit him down there this weekend,” Arum said. “That’s all I know on that.”
As for motormouth Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios and his lightweight title challenge in Las Vegas Saturday night against Miguel Acosta, Arum said it’s put up or shut time for trainer Robert Garcia’s fighter.
“I like the kid, Rios, but he is in very tough in this fight,” Arum said. “We’ve got high hopes for Brandon but the champ hits hard, he hits like a mule.”
Note Uncle Bob said mule, not fool.
Rios is the Oxnard-based banger who caused some havoc in the Antonio Margarito camp before Tone Loc fought Manny Pacquiao.
Rios alleged that trainer Freddie Roach and Pacman “won’t even show up” for that fight.
History tells us otherwise.
Rios, Garcia and Margarito also got in hot water for mocking Roach’s Parkinson’s condition, a bad act for the trio later apologized profusely for.
Henson also updated Donaire’s travel plans back to Manila:
“The Donaires are arriving in Manila next week. They will be at ringside for the WBA lightweight title fight between defending champion Miguel Acosta of Venezuela and challenger Brandon Rios in Las Vegas tomorrow (Sunday morning, Manila). Donaire and Rios are both trained by former IBF superfeatherweight champion Robert Garcia. Accompanying the Donaires to Manila is Filipino businessman Rich Cabel who distributes the Philippine-made coconut vodka brand VuQu in the US. Donaire endorses the product.”
Coconut vodak, I’ll drink to that and wait until WOFO, Wise, Old Filpino Owl Hermie Rivera hears about this development.
We’ll drink to that.
