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Top Rank promoter Bob Arum shifted gears on Sunday, saying that he would likely match WBO bantamweight (118 pounds) champion, Fernando Montiel of Los Mochis, Mex., opposite Puerto Rican-born, former WBA flyweight (112 pounds) king Eric Morel (42-2, 21 KOs), of Madison, Wis., on May 8 instead of Montiel against WBA interim super flyweight (115 pounds) titlist Nonito Donaire of the Philippines in a May 8 matchup in Aguascalientes, Mex.
As part of Saturday night's Top Rank pay per view Latin Fury 13-Pinoy Power III card from the Las Vegas Hilton, the 30-year-old Montiel (pictured above in far corner) scored a first-round knockout over Ciso Morales (14-1, eight KOs), of Bohol, Philippines, rising to 40-2-2 with his 30th knockout.
The 34-year-old Morel (42-2, 21 KOs), meanwhile, earned a mandatory shot at Montiel thanks to Saturday night's controversial, split-decision over former two-time world champion Gerry Penalosa (54-8-2, 36 KOs), of Cebu, Philippines, in their WBO 118-pound title eliminator.
In the main event, the 27-year-old Donaire had looked impressive as he improved to 23-1 with his 15th stoppage, flattening Manuel Vargas (26-5-1, 11 KOs) of Jalisco, Mexico, in the third round.
The efforts of Montiel and Donaire had Arum salivating for a big matchup between the two, except that Morel, in victory, has earned the right to face Montiel in acccordance with WBO rules.
"It will be that Morel has to get the fight with Montiel. That's the [WBO] rules," said Arum. "I've got to talk with all of them, and then, we'll see."
Nicknamed "The Filipino Flash," Donaire, could, instead, go after a unification bout opposite WBC and WBA 115-pound champion, Vic Darchinyan (33-2-1, 27 KOs), a 34-year-old who is 5-1-1, with five KOs since suffing a fifth-round knockout loss to Donaire in July 2007.
"May 8 would be Morel and then Montiel," said Arum. "Donaire can either fight Darchinyan or else fight somebody else and then fight Montiel."
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