Mathebula set for superfight
South African Jeffrey Mathebula en Filipino star Nonito Donaire could meet soon to unify their world super-bantamweight titles.
The fight is likely to be held at the Home Depot Centre near Los Angeles on June 30 or July 7, according to reports and comments from promoters.
Top Rank vice-president Carl Moretti has told ESPN the clash would take place late next month or in July. Other US and Filipino websites have reported that the bout will be staged in Las Vegas.
The showdown will match 29-year-old "Filipino Flash" Donaire, the WBO champion, and IBF champion Mathebula.
Donaire’s record as a professional stands at 28-1, with 18 knockouts. Mathebula’s is 26-3, with two draws and 14 knockouts.
Donaire relinquished two world bantamweight titles to move up a division in February and won a split decision over Puerto Rico's Wilfredo Vazquez Jr in a fight for the vacant WBO belt.
Mathebula, 32, will be an unusual opponent for Donaire because he he is taller than the Asian star.
The South African won the IBF title last March with a split decision over compatriot Takalani Ndlovu, who had beaten Mathebula by split decision in 2010.
Mathebula's only other loss since 2003 was in his only other world title fight, a 2009 split-decision loss in Panama to Celestino Caballero when they clashed for the IBF and WBA super-bantamweight titles.
