LAS VEGAS (AP) -Nonito Donaire will soon get his turn on boxing's biggest stages after the IBF flyweight champion signed a promotional contract with Top Rank.
Promoter Bob Arum announced the deal Thursday alongside Donaire, a Filipino-born fighter who grew up in San Leandro, Calif., a Bay Area suburb. Long a promising prospect with no big-name victories, Donaire leaped into prominence last year with a fifth-round knockout victory over Vic Darchinyan to win the 112-pound title.
``I'm a very ambitious person,'' Donaire said. ``I'm never the kind who's going to be satisfied with anything. I want to fight the best out there. Bring them, whoever they are. I'm not backing out on anyone Mr. Arum wants to put in front of me.''
In his title victory in Bridgeport, Conn., last July, Donaire (19-1, 12 KOs) fought surprisingly well before dramatically ending the bout with a one-punch knockout of Darchinyan, the Australian champion who wasn't expected to get much resistance in his seventh title defense.
Donaire hasn't lost since his second pro fight in 2001, but he has fought just once since winning his title, beating Luis Maldonado in December. A fight with Hussein Hussein in Dubai was canceled last April, but Donaire moved to sever ties with promoter Gary Shaw last week, complaining he wasn't getting enough action.
That shouldn't be a problem with Arum, who said he hopes to match Donaire with powerful 115-pound champion Fernando Montiel. The fighters could headline a card in Macau this fall if Montiel wins his defense against Jose Navarro next month on the Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito undercard.
Veteran junior bantamweight Jorge Arce also is on Arum's short list of matchups for Donaire. Donaire couldn't fight Montiel until October at the earliest, so Arum also hopes to put Donaire in a tuneup fight in August.
Donaire's contract with Top Rank guarantees three fights a year.
``He's someone who has captured the imagination of everyone in the Philippines,'' Arum said of Donaire, whose family moved to the Bay Area around Donaire's 10th birthday. ``There's so many terrific fighters in these divisions that we can't wait to make the best possible matches.''
Donaire hopes to follow the career path of fellow Filipino Manny Pacquiao, who will fight WBC lightweight champion David Diaz for a title in his fourth weight class Saturday. Donaire said he could imagine fighting at 130 pounds before his career ends.
Glenn Donaire, Nonito's older brother, will fight Ulises Solis in Mexico on July 12 for Solis' 108-pound title.
