Top Rank grooms Arce for Donaire

When Top Rank chairman Bob Arum has a blockbuster match in mind, he usually pits the protagonists against separate opponents on the same card as a teaser. That’s his way of gauging if the fighters will be up to the task.

On Nov. 1, IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire stakes his crown against mandatory challenger Moruti (Babyface) Mthalane of South Africa at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. In the undercard, interim WBA superflyweight titlist Jorge Arce takes on Mexican countryman Isidro Garcia in a 12-round bout.

If Donaire and Arce win convincingly, the probability is Arum will arrange a showdown with Manila or Macau as possible venues late this year or early the next. The fight is a matchmaker’s dream because both Donaire and Arce are crowd pleasers who never back down.

But Donaire isn’t looking past Mthalane who has compiled a 22-1 record, with 15 KOs and is unbeaten in his last nine outings. Mthalane, known as South Africa’s version of Marco Antonio Barrera, decisioned Australia’s Hussein Hussein to earn the title crack last July and is making his US debut.

“This is my first fight outside of South Africa and I intend to make the most of it,” said Mthalane. “I’m going to be in the middle of the ring. Donaire will not have a problem finding me. Let’s see how he handles my pressure.”

Donaire, born in General Santos City and now living in San Leandro, California, recently signed a three-year contract with Top Rank and said he’s out to prove his worth to Arum. Donaire will earn $250,500 for the second defense of the title he wrested from Vic Darchinyan on a knockout last year.

“I’ve worked too hard to get this title and there is no way I’m letting anyone take it away fro me,” he said. “Mthalane is going back to South Africa without the only souvenir he craves most - my world championship belt.”

Donaire said he has studied Mthalane’s style on tape and is confident of retaining his crown. “Mthalane is a tough guy but our team has already strategized for it,” he said. “I am privileged to fight on a card with Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Matt Vanda and would like to thank Top Rank for giving me the opportunity to prove my skills.”

Donaire, wife Rachel, father Nonito Sr., manager Cameron Dunkin, Arum, Top Rank president Todd duBeof and Mandalay Bay vice president Scott Voeller took a private jet from Las Vegas to Santa Monica, California, to join Chavez, manager Fernando Beltran and Vanda in a press conference to announce the Nov. 1 bill last week.

Tickets are now on sale at $50, $100, $200 and $300. The bouts are available on pay-per-view at $39.95.

The main event features the rematch between Chavez and Vanda. Last July, Chavez beat Vanda via a controversial split decision in Hermosillo.

“We want to show the people that good entertainment is affordable,” said Arum. “You don’t have to dip into your mortgage for great entertainment. If you make prices reasonable, people will fill the arena.”

Chavez said he asked Arum to arrange the return bout “to erase all doubts.” Vanda, fresh from scoring an eighth round knockout over Dezi Ford early last week, said he’ll put Chavez to sleep and guaranteed an explosive performance.

A week ago, Donaire attended the San Francisco Giants Filipino Heritage Night on Top Rank’s invitation and stayed with fans for six hours. The next day, he sparred with Angel Magdaleno, who recently turned pro, and Fil-Am Adam Fiel.   

Chavez, rated No. 7 by the WBC, has a 37-0-1 record, with 29 KOs. Like Vanda, he promised to win by knockout. Vanda’s record is 39-7, with 22 KOs.

“Chavez knows he got away with a gift decision from his hometown judges in our first fight,” said Vanda, a former IBA Americas junior middleweight champion. “This time, we will be fighting under the auspices of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the best in boxing and a world-wide pay-per-view audience. Chavez will have no one to hide behind this time. I’m going to hunt him down and kill his perfect record. Chavez made a huge mistake in taking this rematch. I’m going to tattoo him good.”