January 23, 2013 - 12:46 AMT
Vic Darchinyan may fight Nonito Donaire April 13

Nonito Donaire will return to the ring on April 13, and the fight everyone wants to see against Abner Mares is not a dead issue, according to promoter Bob Arum, Bad Left Hook said.

After weeks of fans and media assuming that Mares being a Golden Boy fighter, and Golden Boy reluctant to "loan" him to Top Rank, would block the best matchup to be made at 122 pounds (and one of the best in the sport, period), Bob Arum says that the Mares team are speaking with them now about the possibility.

Arum has not seemed reluctant to actually make the fight, rather only in co-promoting with Golden Boy. The veteran promoter has said he'll put on the fight if he can pay Golden Boy a fee to promote it alone, with Donaire as the A-side.

The other possibilities for April 13 are Guillermo Rigondeaux and Vic Darchinyan. Rigondeaux is the "other" super bantamweight that many want to see Donaire face, a tricky Cuban with a huge amateur pedigree and the WBA world title just 11 fights into his pro career, while Darchiynan would be a personal battle. Donaire flattened Darchinyan in 2007, and a rematch was never made despite some negotiations over that time.