The stage is set for another boxing battle between the Philippines and Mexico.
One week after an intense battle between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez in the welterweight division, the battleground now shifts to the super bantamweight division where Nonito Donaire will face Jorge Arce in a 12 round fight at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
During the public weigh in at the PlazAmericas Mall in Houston, Donaire weighed in at 121.5 pounds, half a pound under the super bantamweight limit. Donaire holds a stellar record of 30 wins against only a single loss with 19 wins coming via knockout.
Arce on the other hand tipped the scales at exactly 122 pounds, but he had to strip buck naked to make the weight.
Arce had a bit of trouble making weight as he fought above the super bantamweight division in his past two fights. Back in June, he weighed in at 123.5 pounds against Jesus Rojas. he then weighed in at 126 pounds last September against Mauricio Martinez.
The Mexican fighter people call 'El Travieso' for his boyish antics debuted back in 1996, holds a record of 61 wins with six losses and two draws. Arce has 46 knockouts in his career for a 66% knockout percentage compared to only 61% for Donaire. He also has a 2 cm reach advantage over Donaire although he is about an inch shorter in height.
After defeating Toshiaki Nishioka last October, Donaire said that he was done for the year. But he quickly reconsidered after a fight against Arce was placed before him. Donaire only fought twice in 2011 and he is out to make up for lost time by fighting four times this year.
The fight between Donaire and Arce should be entertaining while it lasts. The two are very exciting boxers who relish the opportunity to trade blows against opponents who will stay right in front of them.
Donaire will finally face an opponent who will be willing to stand toe-to-toe with him after facing an array of opponents who did their best to stay away from him. Donaire will be baiting Arce to load up on right straights all night as this gives Donaire the chance to land one of his vaunted left hooks.
Arce on the other hand will be banking on sheer aggression to try and topple Donaire. He is older and slower than the defending champion so his only chance of getting a win is by his power. He will attempt to bury his forehead on Donaire's chest for most of the fight to counter Donaire's speed.
The match will be for Donaire's WBO and WBC Diamond super bantamweight titles.
Donaire also held the IBF super bantamweight title after he defeated Jeffrey Mathebula back in July but he relinquished it shortly before facing Toshiaki Nishioka last October. The IBF required Donaire to defend the belt against a mandatory challener before 2012 ended but the Filipino fighter and Bob Arum of Top Rank Promotions already had their eyes on Arce as Donaire's next opponent. They decided it would be best to ditch the IBF belt and not pay the $40,000 sanctioning fee because the title will be stripped from him anyway.
If everything goes according to Arum's plans, Donaire-Arce should be a contestant in 2012's Fight of the Year honors alongside Pacquiao-Marquez, Brandon Rios-Mike Alvarado, Andre Berto-Robert Guerrero, and Brian Viloria-Hernan Marquez. — DVM, GMA News
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