Arum says Bedak fight will test Donaire's resolve

CEBU, Philippines - Top Rank big boss Bob Arum said Nonito Donaire's much awaited fight against Zsolt Bedak will test his resolve in his chase for ultimate grandeur in the super bantamweight division.

Since that stunning knockout loss to Jamaican banger Nicolas Walters that sent him crashing back to earth two years ago, Donaire has patiently worked his way to regain his lofty position among the elite stars of his generation.

His ascent back to the top echelon of boxing has been so good so far, with Donaire racking up three straight wins capped by an impresive unanimous decision over Mexican Cesar Juarez in their bloody and explosive 12-round war that earned him back his WBO super bantamweight belt in December last year.

Though heavily favored, Arum strongly feels that Donaire still faces a daunting challenge in Bedak as he tries to scale back the heights of glory.

"This should be an interesing fight that will test the resolve of Donaire in his quest to defeat everyone in the 122-pound division," said Arum in a video message shown to media during last Thursday's pre-fight press conference at the Caspian room of Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Cebu.

Donaire, a five-division world champion, has earlier expressed his desire to have a rematch with his one-time tormentors Guillermo Rigondaeux and Walters or pursue a bout with either IBF champion Carl Frampton.

Unfortunately, Arum can't attend the biggest boxing show on Philippine soil in recent years because of back pains. In his stead, the 84-year-old impresario is sending his executive producer Brad Jacobs to grace the mega event they are co-promoting with ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports

Despite his absence, Arum is egging on the fans to watch the great boxing card that is one for the books.

No less than the top brasses of ABS-CBN Sports are eying to shatter the record crowd of 15,000-plus they gathered during the historic 'Battle of Cebu' show featuring Cebu's pride Z 'The Dream' Gorres and Mexico's Fernando "Choculito" Montiel for the WBO super flyweight title.

Gorres, the aggressor and in control for most of the bout, lost by controversial split decision on that fateful night on February 24, 2007 at the Cebu City Sports Center, the same fight grounds where Donaire will put his WBO crown on the line against Bedak tonight.

"We're hoping to break the record we set during the Gorres-Montiel bout nine years ago. We also want to show to the world that Cebu is capable of staging an event of this magnitude," said ABS-CBN executive Peter Musngi.

For his part, Jacobs is looking forward to a great night of boxing. Pleased with the way things are going, he assured that they will be coming back here for more shows of such kind in the future.

"We've promoted events all over the world and to do that, you need to have good partners. We couldn't ask for more with people from ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN around," said Jacobs. "Absolutely, 100 percent we're returning. We've been promoting in mainland China and in Macau and we're always returning to sites with huge turnout by fans and with a great TV partner. You've shown that here, so we're definitely coming back." (FREEMAN)