By Dennis "dSource" Guillermo
A Nonito Donaire-Abner Mares showdown will be a crème de la crème addition to the growing and already storied Philippines vs. Mexico rivalry, and pits two of the best fighters from each country who are on top of their games and are at their natural weight classes.
Mares is undefeated, and if it weren't for a fluke points loss in his second pro fight, Donaire should be as well. Simply put, both men have cleaned out the competition around them, which has left them no other option but to face each other (WBA champ Guillermo Rigondeaux can wait one more fight, and he can fight a legitimate opponent while he's at it).
With that said, the biggest hurdle in making a Donaire-Mares fight is their feuding promoters. Donaire is promoted by Bob Arum and Top Rank, while Mares is with Golden Boy Promotions' Oscar Dela Hoya and Richard Schaefer. Lets just say their relationship and co-existence in boxing has been as harmonious as North and South Korea.
Mares, however, believes the fight can happen.
"I honestly think it can. It's just a matter of us, the fighters, really pressuring the promoters. I myself am putting pressure on my promotion, Golden Boy, Oscar Dela Hoya, I talked to him," Mares stated.
"I talked to him (Dela Hoya) this Saturday too - I was at the Amir Khan fight - right after I heard that Nonito won and knocked out Arce, I was sitting behind Oscar and I told him 'hey, let's make this fight happen' and he said 'we're working on it'," the unbeaten WBC jr. featherweight added.
Donaire, on the other hand, has mentioned publicly that he indeed wants to face Mares next, and has done his share of lobbying for the match-up.
"I just hope they come to their senses (Golden Boy and Top Rank), and really make this fight happen for the fans," Mares pleaded.
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