Boxing News Boxing News
Top Rank puts on a big show tonight at the Mandalay Bay in Vegas with IBF/IBO Flyweight Champion Nonito Donaire putting his belts at risk against South Africa’s Moruti Mthalane as the headlining contest.
Donaire, 19-1 (12), rocketed to prominence last year when he won his titles by knocking out previously undefeated KO artist Vic Darchinyan in spectacular fashion. The 25 year old “Filipino Flash” followed that up with an eight round stoppage of Luis Maldonado in December to retain the IBF and IBO titles.
Facing Donaire tonight at Mandalay Bay will be South African and WBC International Flyweight titlist Mthalane, 22-1 (15), who brings a nine bout win streak into the ring.
This will be Mthalane’s maiden voyage outside his home country but the man nicknamed “Babyface” decisively overcame seasoned Australian veteran Hussein Hussein in July to earn the shot against Donaire and has to be considered a legitimate threat.
There’s a bevy of action on the undercard with popular interim WBA Super Flyweight titlist Jorge Arce, 50-4-1 (38), meeting former WBO Flyweight Champ Isidro Garcia, 25-5-2 (8), and a rematch between light middleweights Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, 37-0-1 (29), and Matt Vanda, 39-7 (22).
Undefeated light middleweight Vanes Martirosyan, 21-0 (13), faces Charles Howe, 17-4-2 (9), and Lamont Peterson, 25-0 (12), squares off with Lanardo Tyner, 19-1 (11), for the interim NABF Light Welter crown.
