Donaire And Shiming Added To Pacquiao Vs Vargas Undercard

Three world championship fights will act as co-main events to the Manny Pacquiao vs Jesse Vargas WBO welterweight title fight, Saturday, November 5, at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Nonito Donaire and Oscar Valdez, WBO junior featherweight and featherweight champions, respectively, will be risking their crowns in mandatory title defenses against their respective No. 1 contenders Jessse Magdaleno and Hiroshige. The pay-per-view telecast will open with Chinese Olympic icon Zou Shiming in a 12-round rumble with Prasitak Papoem for the vacant WBO flyweight title. This marks the first time Pacquiao and Donaire, the two biggest boxing stars to come out of the Philippines, have ever shared the same card.

The six co-main event gladiators, representing six different countries, have a combined record of 158-8-6 (104 KOs) -- a winning percentage of 92% with nearly 2/3 of those victories coming by way of knockout.

"Jessie is a great challenger, a mandatory title defense and I know he’s hungry because he has been calling me out on social media," said Donaire. "I am working great with my new trainer Ismael Salas. We are learning about each other and he’s instructing me on a more precise, compact way of fighting while still being very explosive as everyone is going to see on November 5."

"Nonito is one of the greatest boxers of all time," said Donaire’s manager Cameron Dunkin. "He’s fought the best and he’s beat the best. He’s faced many tough challenges. This is a very tough challenge but this is what Nonito does."

"As a kid I’ve dreamt of this moment and the time is finally here. On November 5th I will be victorious with my hands raised up high and a belt around my waist," said Magdaleno.

"It’s a pleasure to work with Jessie Magdaleno. We’ve been working together since July 23, and so far training camp has been great, the weight hasn’t been an issue, sparring hasn’t been an issue as he has been working with top notch boxers and the workload has not been an issue. He has embraced the work, and is definitely up to the challenge as he faces Nonito Donaire," said Manuel Robles, Magdaleno’s trainer.

"Jessie Magdaleno is very, very motivated for his fight against Nonito Donaire," said Frank Espinoza, Magdaleno’s manager.. "Nonito has been a great champion and has fought in many big fights for a long time. But this is Jessie’s time. He has worked hard and he has what it takes to win and become a world champion."

“As a world champion you have to face tough challenges and my first defense will be against a tough challenger, but I am ready to face him," said Valdez. "I worked hard to get my belt and I intend to keep it for a long time."

“Óscar Valdez always works very hard to get ready for his fights. He will be even more focused and work even harder defending his championship belt on November 5 than he was when he won it back in July,” said Valdez’s trainer Manuel Robles.

“Óscar Valdez won his world championship with a spectacular performance in July and on November 5, I am sure he will give us another great fight and successfully defend his belt,” said Frank Espinoza, Valdez’s manager.

"The boxing ring has always been a world stage where I have been able to fulfill my dreams. It has given me countless opportunities to challenge myself and surpass my limits which I have always found more important than defeating an opponent," said Zou. "Though my first world title fight was not as successful as I had hoped, I have focused even more on developing and improving myself mentally and physically to meet the challenge of fighting for another world title. I have worked hard to get this second opportunity and I will work even harder in training camp to succeed. On November 5, I will enter the ring fueled by the strength of the Chinese people. Together we will make our mark on boxing history."

"Prasitak may look like Manny Pacquiao but he sure doesn’t fight like him. He’s dirty as hell. The last time we fought him, Prasitak was head butting and landing low blows on Shiming throughout the fight. But just to play it safe, I’ll have Shiming spar with Manny when we get back from Manila so we’re extra prepared," said Zou’s Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach.

"Zou is rated No. 2 and I am rated No. 3, but that is the only thing that has remained the same from our first fight," said Prasitak. "I am a much different fighter than the man Zou fought in China two years ago. I have knocked everyone out since that fight and I have developed elephant strength punching power. I look forward to avenging my only loss and becoming world champion on November 5."

"Top Rank is very proud to be presenting such a special pay-per-view event,": said Hall of Fame promoterBob Arum. "Las Vegas will truly be the boxing capital of the world on November 5 with a championship card featuring the best fighters from six different countries."

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September 27 2016