Whether Pacquiao-Mayweather ever gets made, boxing may be catching the early glimpses of yet another mega-fight on the horizon.
Nonito Donaire (28-1, 18 KOs) and Abner Mares (23-0-1, 13 KOs) are young and in possession of elite-level talent. They’re also just entering the primes of their careers and, as an added touch of good fortune, they are within the same general weight range.
Donaire, who just became a three-division world champ last Saturday by beating Wilfredo Vazquez jr. for the vacant WBO junior featherweight title is 29-years-old and considered one of the brightest young stars in the sport, already being compared with talents as diverse as Roy Jones Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.
The Filipino-American titlist has scored victories over Vic Darchinyan, Fernando Montiel, Omar Narvaez, and Vazquez Jr. The general consensus among boxing experts is that “The Filipino Flash” is capable of much greater things, though, and that the sky is pretty much the limit for the power-punching phenom.
Mares, born in Guadalajara, Mexico, but now residing in Montebello, California, is also just breaking through to the mainstream boxing audience. The 26-year-old boxer-puncher just notched back-to-back title wins over former IBF bantamweight titlist, Joseph Agbeko. He also boasts career wins over former world champs, Vic Darchinyan and Yonnhy Perez.
Having just vacated his IBF title this week, Mares is looking for bigger paydays and greater opportunities for exposure. The ideal place to look would be in Nonito Donaire’s back yard.
“After watching Saturday’s fights, I’m convinced Abner Mares beats Nonito Donaire,” Mares’ promoter, Oscar De la Hoya said via his official Twitter account after watching the Donaire-Vazquez Jr. bout.
Unfortunately, Donaire is promoted by Bob Arum and Top Rank, while Mares is firmly aligned with Golden Boy.
Making high-profile bouts between the two rival promotional companies has become next to impossible these days, especially when big money can still be made by fighting lesser, in-house opposition.
Both fighters are in the right divisions to make some decent paydays without ever facing one another, especially Donaire, who is one step away from the lucrative glamor division of the lower weight classes? Featherweight.
In the meantime, while dreamers dream of another mega-fight coming along, both fighters have their next bout pretty much signed. Donaire will likely take on Mexican veteran, Jorge Arce while Mares is tentatively booked to face veteran Puerto Rican former world champ, Eric Morel.
After that, who knows? Maybe the boxing gods will throw the fans a bone and deliver this one on a silver platter. It’s not often these days that boxing fans are treated to two elite fighters meeting one another in the early stages of their physical primes.
Donaire vs. Mares would be a slam dunk classic.
