Nonito Donaire Sr., his son's trainer said the IBF titleholder must hurdle first his defense on July 26 underneath the Miguel Cott-Antonio Margarito showdown at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. If successful, the Talibon, Bohol-rooted Fil-Am champ faces Mijares possibly later this year.

The bout pits two reigning world champions who are acknowledged as the best in their weight divisions. Mijares (35-3-2, 14 KO's) earned his fame with a one-sided victory over the hugely-popular Jorge Arce in April last year, while Donaire (19-1, 12 KO's) gained world boxing fame with his clinical fifth-round stoppage over bull-strong Vic Darchinyan also last year.

BANAL, DONAIRE

Promoter Lou Dibella, according to Donaire Sr., is reportedly keen on having his ward Mijares face Donaire an HBO-televised event, a battle which will pit two highly-talented world champions at the prime of their careers.

The 26-year-old Mijares, the most popular fighter in the 115-lb division, unified his WBC title with that of the WBA crown after he defeated Alexander Munoz last May in Mexico.

The 25-year-old Donaire, who is considered as the best in the 112-lb category, last saw action in December of last year with an easy dismantling of Mexican Luis Maldonado following his easy victory over Darchinyan.

BANAL GEARS UP
FOR FIRST TITLE CRACK

The other Boholano world prospect AJ "Bazooka" Banal has been religiously training at the famed ALA Gym in Cebu in preparation for his first world title fight also this coming July 26 at the New Cebu Coliseum.

The pride of Corella, Bohol has been undergoing a rigorous training under the watchful eyes of ALA Gym chief trainer Edito "Ala" Villamor.

BANAL'S FOE

In another report by renown CND reporter Salven Lagumbay it was learned that Panama's Rafale "El Torito" Concepcion was set to fly to the United States from Panama City last weekend to continue his training for his July 26 WBA superfly showdown with Banal at the New Cebu Coliseum.

Fight-beat.com reported that Concepcion was accompanied by trainers Hector Roca and Pedro Romero at the world famous boxing institution Gleason's gym in Brooklyn.

Rafael "El Torito" Concepcion, who is managed by Optimum Sports Agency who awaits his arrival dreamt of becoming a world champion since he was a little boy.

"Rafael will surprise a lot of people on the 26th of next month, we are going into their country and fighting into their country and fighting their champion, but we are also going to come away with the win" says Optimum's Damon de Berry.

With a victory over Banal, the Panamanian hopes to join an elite list of fighters from his country with the likes of Hall of Famer Roberto "Hands of Stone" Duran and current world champions Anselmo Moreno and Celestino Caballero.