MANILA, Philippines - Nonito Donaire's first WBO junior featherweight title defense has been moved from its original home at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum in Metro Manila to the Cebu City Sports Complex on April 23, ALA Promotions president Michael Aldeguer confirmed to Rappler.
Donaire (36-3, 23 knockouts) is scheduled to fight Hungarian Zsolt Bedak (25-1, 8 KOs) in his first outing since regaining a portion of the 122-pound title in a rough fight with Cesar Juarez in December.
Aldeguer, whose company will co-promote the event with Donaire's promoter Top Rank, hopes the change in venue will conjure the same atmosphere as its 2007 promotion of Z Gorres' challenge of WBO junior bantamweight champ Fernando Montiel, which he says drew nearly 25,000 fans to the Philippines' Queen City of the South.
Donaire, 33, is back in the United States and isn't expected to return to the Philippines until the first week of April. Aldeguer says Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank, is expected to be in attendance.
A request for comment from Top Rank has not been returned as of publication.
Donaire, a Filipino-American who was born in the province of Bohol, will be fighting for the fifth time in the Philippines, and in his first world title fight in the country since his 2009 knockout win over Raul Martinez at Araneta Coliseum.
Bedak, 32, hasn't lost since 2010, when he was stopped in 10 rounds by Wilfredo Vazquez Jr for the same title he is challenging for.
The co-main event will feature unbeaten featherweight Mark Magsayo (12-0, 10 KOs) in his first serious test against former title challenger Chris Avalos (26-4, 19 KOs).
(READ: Mark Magsayo: Future of Philippine boxing?)
A contract hasn't been signed yet as Magsayo, 20, is set to face Eduardo Montoya (17-4-1, 13 KOs) of Mexico this Saturday, February 27 at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City, Aldeguer says.
"We've agreed in principle...but we have to respect the fight this Saturday," said Aldeguer. – Rappler.com