TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT

Nonito Donaire Jr (right) with wife Rachel upon arrival from the U.S.

By Gerry Ramos

FORMER International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. challenged brash Armenian Vic Darchinyan to immediately make their highly-awaited rematch possible or else he’ll just move on and campaign in the higher division.

And please, Mr. Darchinyan, Donaire stressed, he’s not the one to go after you.

To those who have a short memory, Donaire was more than please to inform that it was he who inflicted the fearsome fighter now based in Sydney, Australia his first career loss three years ago and dethroned him on top of the 112-pound weight class.

‘I’m just here ready to fight,” said Donaire upon arrival in the country Friday from the U.S. “But I won’t be the one to beg for a fight against him. Bakit ako ang mag-beg sa kanya.”

The long-sought return bout with the 34-year old Darchinyan surfaced once again in the light of Donaire’s quick, three-round demolition of a badly-outclassed Manuel Vargas of Mexico last Sunday in a 12-round super-flyweight bout at the Hilton Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Shortly after the win that hiked his record to 23-1, with 15 KOs, Donaire admitted having a hard time meeting the super-flyweight limit and expressed his intention of moving up to bantamweight in his next match.

But doing so would mean foregoing the rematch with Darchinyan, now the World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) super-flyweight titlist.

Donaire admitted during the grand homecoming party tendered to him by GMA Network led by chairman, president and CEO Felipe L. Gozon, that even himself is looking forward to meeting Darchinyan again, but for some reasons, he said, negotiations for the fight doesn’t always prosper.

“It’s been a long overdue rematch. But it’s been a long time also na parating negotiate na lang ng negotiate. I don’t want to just wait for another year without a fight. Aakyat na lang ako kung ayaw nila sa amin,” said Donaire, accompanied by wife Rachel Marcial and father in-law Gerry Marcial during the luncheon at the 17th floor of the GMA Network Center.

Donaire stunned the boxing world three years ago when he scored a fifth round technical knockout of the then undefeated Darchinyan to wrest the IBF 112-lb belt in Connecticut, U.S.A. in a fight later adjudged as the 2007 Upset of the Year.

Since then several attempts to have a rematch had been made, the latest of which came shortly after Donaire’s victory over Vargas.

The Filipino said he’s aware that such negotiations are now being arranged, adding, “there’s been an official talk between both camps, although medyo mahina yata `yung sa part nila.”

In the event the talks failed, Donaire said he’s definitely moving up at 118-lb and challenge reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion Fernando Montiel.

“I’d rather fight a champion (Montiel) who respects me,” he said in an obvious spite on Darchinyan, who had been bad-mouthing the Filipino since their 2007 encounter.

For the Vargas fight, Donaire said he received a $150,000 purse since he’s not a legitimate world title holder at the moment, although when he was the IBF champion, the Filipino was already getting $250,000 per fight.

Likewise, a part of his prize will be given to retired fellow Filipino boxer Z Gorres, who is still undergoing rehabilitation following a brain surgery in Las Vegas.