Nonito Donaire signs extension with Top Rank ahead of Vetyeka fight

Nonito Donaire will return to the ring on May 31, making his debut in Macau, China, and the 31-year-old "Filipino Flash" has also signed a contract extension with Top Rank, according to a report at ESPN.com.

Manager Cameron Dunkin had this to say:

"Nonito has a great deal and it will be even better if he wins this fight," Dunkin said. "But this guy (Vetyeka) is a tough, tough guy, maybe the toughest guy Nonito has ever fought other than Rigondeaux, maybe even tougher than that because of his size. He can punch, he's long-armed and he's big."

Donaire (32-2, 21 KO) will look to win a world title in a fourth weight class against Simpiwe Vetyeka (26-2, 16 KO), who holds the WBA featherweight title, which he won from Chris John in December. The fight will air on HBO2 in the United States on tape delay, which is quite a fall for Donaire's American TV presence on the surface, but this fight is more about getting Donaire's foot into the door in Macau.

This will be Top Rank's first card there that does not feature two-time Chinese Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming, and Donaire is being counted on to bring in fans.

The rest of the card will also feature two more featherweight title fights, as Nicholas Walters will defend the WBA "regular" title against an opponent to be determined. The fight has reportedly been offered to Vic Darchinyan, and was originally slated to be against Alejandro Perez, who was upset in a tune-up bout last weekend. IBF titleholder Evgeny Gradovich will defend his belt against Alexander Miskirtchian, and in a super bantamweight eliminator, Chris Avalos will take on Yasutaka Ishimoto.