For a fourth time this year, Nonito Donaire will climb the ring aching to prove once more than he’s the best fighter in and around his division, against one of the toughest guys out there: Mexican slugger Jorge Arce.
Less than a month after flattening Japanese slinger Toshiaki Nishioka, Donaire (30-1-0 with 19 knockouts) showed up side by side with Arce in a press conference held in Houston for their Dec. 15 fight for the Filipino’s WBO super bantamweight title at the 15,000-seater Toyota Center.
Donaire, who is still trying to heal a ripped knuckle which he first tore in sparring and re-opened again after decking Nishioka, is gunning for the prestigious Fighter of the Year award just for his sheer busy schedule if not for quality of his triumphs.
The flamboyant Arce is widely thought to be Donaire’s biggest fight in his career. And depending on how he handles himself, the fight could help him firm up his pay-per-view profile.
Arce (61-6-2 with 46 KOs) has been tipped to fight the Filipino Flash since he scored a shutout win over Argentina’s Omar Narvaez in New York City last year. But Arce, 33, reportedly asked for more than $1 million to fight causing the deal to fall through.
The Los Mochis, Sinaloa native, whose reputation of engaging in all-out brawls could play well into Donaire’s sharp, counter-punching abilities, said he believes he can be the first to deal the Filipino a knockout defeat.
Donaire won world titles in light flyweight, bantam and super bantam and was interim champ in flyweight. He last tasted defeat 11 years ago and is on a hot 28-fight winning streak, including three at 122 pounds which he conquered as lineal champ this year.