WBC bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire will make his much-delayed return to boxing on October 22 with an HBO-televised bout against Omar Narvaez.
The bout was confirmed by Bob Arum whose Top Rank promotional company recently reunited with Donaire after a contract battle earlier this year. At press time, the actual contract signing for Donaire-Narvaez is said to be a formality.
“It’s done. That fight is happening,” Arum told RING Magazine. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s a done deal.”
Doanire, considered by many to be the best fighter at 118 pounds, won the WBC title in February with a vicious second round TKO of Fernando Montiel. Narvaez, a southpaw, will be making his first appearance at bantamweight. In June, he made the 16th successful defense of his WBO super flyweight title with a unanimous decision over William Urina.
Donaire-Narvaez will take place at Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
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