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Rigondeaux to Donaire: Prepare for what's coming

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 09: Guillermo Rigondeaux (L) reacts after knocking out Teon Kennedy during their WBA super bantamweight title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on June 9, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

The fight’s official venue is now the only thing that stands in the way of the Nonito Donaire Jr.-Guillermo Rigondeaux super bantamweight unification bout on April 13.

Donaire, 30, will put his World Boxing Organization, The Ring and World Boxing Council Diamond super bantamweight belts on the line against the undefeated Cuban Rigondeaux, 32, who currently holds the World Boxing Association Super bantamweight title.

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While HBO has already confirmed it will televise the bout, Top Rank, which promotes both fighters, has yet to determine the venue.

In an article written by Keith Idec and Jhonny Gonzalez of boxingscene.com, Top Rank officials are choosing among the Radio City Music Hall in New York, the Theater at Madison Square Garden, the Home Depot Center in Carson, California and several sites in Texas.

“The Garden is occupied on that date, so we have to look elsewhere, preferably in New York, but can't rule out Los Angeles and Texas,” Top Rank representative Ricardo Jimenez was quoted as saying by Gonzalez.

The southpaw Donaire, sporting a 31-1 win-loss record highlighted by 20 KOs and coming off a sensation four-fight winning streak in 2012, has fought twice in the California venue, beating the likes of South African Jeffrey Mathebula via unanimous decision in July and Japanese star Toshiaki Nishioka via ninth-round stoppage three months later.

According to Idec, the October 13 bout drew a crowd of 7,665 fans while the July fight attracted about 3,700.

Donaire also stamped his mark at the Theater in MSG in October 2011, outpointing Argentine Omar Narvaez in a relatively boring 12-round bantamweight title clash that drew 4,425 fans.

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Meanwhile, Rigondeaux, a two-time Olympic gold medalist who remains undefeated after 11 matches, eight coming via stoppage, was “very happy” that his co-promoters Top Rank and Caribe Promotions have finally resolved the issues.

”I am very happy that finally we're going to have this fight that so many people have been waiting for. We have gone through some difficult moments, but common sense and good faith have prevailed. My career will be stronger now that Caribe and Top Rank have agreed to (work together). Now I can look at this date of April 13th without any worries. Just tell Nonito to prepare for what's coming,” Rigondeaux was quoted as saying by Gonzales.

Donaire, who was named the Athlete of the Year by the Philippine Sportswriters Association for the third time, is expected to also sign the deal.

DONAIRE VS. ARCE FIGHT IMAGES: