:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/1310055/154029069.0.jpg)
Dan Rafael of ESPN.com reports that Nonito Donaire has chosen to vacate the IBF super bantamweight title today, just hours ahead of his fight tonight with Toshiaki Nishioka.
The decision was made this morning, when Donaire skipped the IBF's day-of weigh-in, for reasons that weren't to do with his weight but with the fact that a mandatory title fight he wouldn't be taking would come up by the end of 2012 and get him stripped anyway.
Manager Cameron Dunkin says he made the recommendation for Nonito to just keep the $40,000 he would have paid the IBF to sanction the title fight tonight, since he would have had to face the Takalani Ndlovu-Alejandro Lopez winner soon or be stripped. Obviously, that's likely not on their radar or wish list, so it's probably a fine decision.
Donaire's WBO title will still be on the line tonight, as well as the vacant WBC "diamond" title. Join us tonight, starting at 7 pm with the undercards, and then continuing at 10 pm on HBO, for what should be a great night of boxing.