Well, this is more like it. Today, Nonito Donaire posted on his facebook that Bob Arum is in the process of finalizing a bout between him and 118 pound titlist Fernando Montiel in November. Montiel had a bout scheduled for next month against Rafael Concepcion, but it seems that the bout may be off. This could be the challenge that Donaire has been looking for. Montiel was on the fringes of the pound for pound top 10 for a while, but had fallen off some before his stunning upset of Hozumi Hasegawa. However, even a faded Montiel would easily be among Donaire's toughest two fights of his career, which may help justify his absurd #4 position on the Ring's pound for pound list.
Fernando Montiel has gotten injured, and his fight with Eric Morel is being postponed for the second time. Jorge Arce will be stepping in his place on the Latin Fury 9 card, facing Fernando Lumacad. At some point, Bob Arum should just say "screw it" and call the card off. What was once a promising card has been decimated. Edwin Valero refused to sign the dotted line, Mike Alvarado pulled out against Paulie Malignaggi and now the most compelling fight that was left has been struck from the card. Instead, you get a Juan Manuel Lopez showcase fight, a showcase fight with a severely faded Jorge Arce, Vanes Matirosyan against light-hitting gatekeeper Andrey Tsurkan, and what promises to be a complete snoozer between Yuri Foreman and Cornelius Bundrage. Not only are Latinos not involved in half the card, but I fail to see the fury either. If Big Bob still plans on charging more than 30 bucks for this farce, he should be ashamed of himself.
Dan Rafael's blog mentions the following fights being discussed this weekend in Las Vegas: * Ricky Hatton v. the Oscar/Manny winner, obviously * Juan Manuel Lopez and Ivan Calderon possible for the Pavlik/Cotto PPV card in February * Fernando Montiel v. Nonito Donaire in March on Showtime * Winky Wright v. Mikkel Kessler in March/April on HBO * Winky v. Joe Calzaghe (highly unlikely) * Sergio Martinez v. Joe Greene as a co-feature for Berto-Collazo * Jesus Chavez v. Joel Casamayor, Jorge Barrios or Michael Katsidis on Versus in '09