Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2010 | 2:19 p.m.
Gerson Guerrero informed Top Rank officials today that he would be withdrawing from a scheduled bout with WBA super flyweight interim champion Nonito Donaire because of an injury that is believed to be a detached retina. The fight was set to headline the Pinoy Power III boxing event Saturday night at the Las Vegas Hilton.
According to Top Rank officials, Mexican fighter Manuel Vargas (26-4-1, 11 KO) will serve as a late replacement for Guerrero. Vargas is expected to fly in from his home in Mexico later tonight.
Top Rank was informed of the injury just moments before Wednesday's press conference to promote the event. The fight will still be for Donaire's (22-1, 14 KO) interim title and headline the event, which is available on pay-per-view.
Although Vargas is a former WBO minimumweight champion, the 28-year-old fighter will enter Saturday as a huge underdog. In addition to serving as a very late replacement, Vargas hasn't fought at a higher weight than 106 pounds since April 2008. This will be Donaire's second consecutive fight at the 114-pound limit weight class.
Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or [email protected]. Also follow him on twitter: LVSunFighting.
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