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After a fight between Nonito Donaire and Scott Quigg fell by the wayside a short while ago, both Donaire and promoter Top Rank were left looking for a place for Donaire to land. Both Donaire and Top Rank are currently negotiating a contract extension and should that get finalized, Donaire will be back on TV before the year is out.
Unfortunately for Donaire (35-3, 23 KOs), HBO doesn't have a slot for him before the end of the year, so he would be making his return on truTV on December 11th instead, where he would take on Mexico's Cesar Juarez (17-3, 13 KOs) in a junior featherweight fight. That fight could either be for a regional title or the vacant WBO world title should Guillermo Rigondeaux be stripped.
Donaire is currently on a two fight win streak since getting pummeled by Nicholas Walters and dropping back down to 122lbs, and Juarez has just won four straight, though not against anyone to get worked up about. But to make this more of an event, Bob Arum would like to couple Donaire with fast rising prospect Felix Verdejo for the Dec. 11th card -- if Verdejo makes it out of his Oct. 31st fight without taking much damage or re-injuring his surgically repaired hand.
"We want to end the year strong on truTV," Arum said. "Verdejo and Donaire together, that's ending the year strong. Donaire is working hard. Juarez is a pretty good fighter but Donaire should be OK."
Doesn't sound like Arum thinks Donaire's fight will be much of a firefight.