MANILA, Philippines — If Nonito Donaire keeps on winning big-time, Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum might end up pitting him against Puerto Rican Juan Manuel Lopez, the scourge of Filipino fighters.

Arum told the Bulletin on Monday from Las Vegas that Donaire has his hands full against Fernando Montiel on February 19 at the Mandalay Bay and assuming he emerges victorious, there’s no other choice but to give him fights that the public would like to see.

Donaire has widely spoken about plans to go up in weight and figure in marquee matchups and Arum said it would eventually lead to one man: Lopez.

The unbeaten Lopez is best remembered by Filipino fight fans as the long-armed puncher who pushed Gerry Penalosa on the brink of retirement and the fellow who turned the highly-touted Abe Concepcion into a skid row drunk when they fought last year.

Lopez currently resides at featherweight (122 lbs) and Arum is optimistic Donaire can bring his winning ways up to such level.

It doesn’t appear comical for Donaire to dream of winning multiple titles like Manny Pacquiao since he has shown tremendous abilities in getting up in weight the past few years.

After becoming the lord of the flys (112 lbs) in 2007, Donaire has succeeded in terrorizing the super-fly (115) and bantam (118) ranks with his lethal combination of power, skills and speed.

In Donaire’s last outing last month, he easily disposed of Vladimir Sidorenko of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Arum will preside over a press conference scheduled Monday (Tuesday in Manila) at the Mizuya Lounge of the Mandalay Bay. Donaire and Montiel will be in attendance.

From Sin City, the promotion will travel to Los Angeles for another round of gigs with the media.

Appearing in the undercard of the Donaire-Montiel is rising Filipino prospect Mark Jason Melligen, who fights out of the ALA Boxing Club of Tony Aldeguer in Cebu City.

Melligen meets abriel Martinez of Mexico in a special attraction.

Nick Giongco, Manila Bulletin