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Sports

It’s on for Donaire vs Rigondeaux

Dino Maragay - The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - Guillermo Rigondeaux has filled in the blanks and has agreed to face Nonito Donaire Jr. in a super-bantamweight unification bout on April 13.

The fight will most likely take place at the Radio City Music Hall in New York.

Donaire’s promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, said once the 30-year-old Donaire signs the contract, the fight and the venue will be formally announced.

It should happen in the next few days so the boxers can begin training, and the promoters can start drumming up the fight.

Donaire is the reigning WBO super-bantamweight while Rigondeaux, the two-time Olympic champion, is holder of the WBA belt, and is undefeated in 11 fights.

According to www.RingTV.com, the Rigondeaux camp has confirmed with Arum that the 32-year-old Cuban defector has signed the contract.

Pat English, the lawyer of Rigondeaux’s manager Gary Hyde, personally called Arum to deliver the news.

Rigondeaux, according to previous reports, will get $750,000 to face Donaire, who is now a million-dollar fighter.

Against Jorge Arce last December, the stylish Filipino boxer earned his first million for a single fight. He won in great fashion, scoring a third-round knockout.

“[English] has called me to say that it has happened and that he had forwarded it to my office,” Arum told www.RingTV.com’s Lem Satterfield.

“I believe him, because he’s a responsible guy,” Arum said. “Everything is in the process of happening. When it happens (Donaire signing), it will happen, and then, we’ll announce the signing and the site.”

Rigondeaux defected to the US in 2007 and settled in Miami, a known haven of Cuban boxers who decide to turn professional. Of his 11 victories, eight of them were knockouts.

Rigondeaux expressed confidence in his match-up with Donaire, who is coming off a banner year having been named 2012 Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America and some media organizations like ESPN and Yahoo! Sports.

“Just tell Nonito to prepare for what’s coming,” he said.

Rigondeaux ended up as Donaire’s opponent after failed talks between rival companies Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions to arrange a Donaire-Abner Mares fight.

Donaire and Rigondeaux belong to Top Rank’s stable.   

AGAINST JORGE ARCE

BOB ARUM OF TOP RANK

BOXING WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

DONAIRE

DONAIRE AND RIGONDEAUX

DONAIRE-ABNER MARES

FIGHTER OF THE YEAR

GARY HYDE

GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX

RIGONDEAUX

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