Nonito Donaire likely to defend title on Pacquiao-Vargas card

WBO junior featherweight titlist Nonito Donaire (37-3, 24 KOs) is currently in negotiations to be added to the Nov. 5th Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas card where he would defend his world title against mandatory challenger Jessie Magdaleno (23-0, 17 KOs). Top Rank promoter Bob Arum tells ESPN.com that aside from the fights with Pacquiao and Donaire, there would also be two other world title fights on the card - but he declined to say what fights those would be.

"We were negotiating the deal [on Wednesday]," Cameron Dunkin, Donaire's manager, told ESPN.com. "With Nonito, I'd like to get him big names and big fights, but that's not possible right now, so he has to keep defending his title and do this mandatory. We're real close and trying to settle on a few things. We're going to try to get it wrapped up and be done in the next couple of days."

Donaire fighting on a card with Pacquiao would mark the first time two of the biggest stars in Filipino boxing would be appearing together, adding at least some excitement for their passionate fans.

"This will be really fun," Dunkin said. "I think it should have happened sooner, but it's OK. I think the Filipino people will be really excited and happy for this. It's terrific."

But at this point it's a little hard to say how much more business Pacquiao-Vargas can be expected to do with Donaire on the card. I suppose the novelty of it is at least a starting point...