WBA superflyweight champion Nonito Donaire (left) and Mexican challenger Manuel Vargas strike a pose for photographers after the official weigh-in for their title fight this Sunday at the Las Vegas Hilton Pavilion. (REUTERS)

For interim world champion Nonito Donaire, Jr., there is equal amount of pressure in aiming for a spectacular win against a supposed easy opponent compared to getting one against a top caliber fighter.

This Sunday, Donaire will defend his World Boxing Association (WBA) interim superflwyeight crown against long-time minimumweight campaigner Manuel “Chango” Vargas of Mexico in a 12-round face-off at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Vargas is a last minute replacement to original foe Gerson Guerrero who had to be scratched after a tear on the Mexican’s retina was discovered in an official medical check-up a few days ago.

“I need to fight no matter what. We’ve been preparing for this the last two months. I’ve been telling everyone I only want to fight the best out there but things like this happen in boxing,” said Donaire in an overseas chat with the Manila Bulletin.

Vargas, 28, is coming off a 12-round split decision loss to Filipino World Boxing Organization (WBO) 105lb champion Donnie Nietes last September in Nayarit, Mexico.

With a consolation that at least the card he’s topbilling is still on and with him as the main event, Donaire wants to get it over with in grand fashion then challenge the acknowledged superstars of his class.

The 27-year-old Donaire is hoping to arrange a fight against world bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel of Mexico, and fellow super flyweight rulers Jorge Arce who is also from Mexico and Australia-based Armenian Vic Darchinyan.

In Saturday’s official weigh-in Donaire (22-1, 14 knockouts) easily made the weight limit of 115lbs while Vargas (26-4-1, 11 KO’s) was a pound under at 114.

The card, dubbed “Pinoy Power 3/Latin Fury 13”, will also feature Montiel who will stake his WBO bantamweight belt against undefeated Filipino bet Ciso Morales in a 12-round match set. Both Montiel (39-2-2, 29 KO’s) and Morales (14-0, 8 KO’s) came in at 118.

In an interim WBO bantamweight title bout, Filipino Gerry Peñalosa clashes with former super flyweight champion Eric Morel of Puerto Rico for 12-rounds. Both made the mark of 118lbs with the winner getting the right to face the victor of the Montiel-Morales showdown.

Filipinos Bernabe Concepcion and Mark Jason Melligen complete the Filipino side with bouts opposite Puerto Rican Mario Santiago and Mexican Raymond Gatica, respectively.

Meantime former world title challenger Z Gorres who is on his way to a near-miraculous recovery after suffering a life-threatening injury in his last fight, will be on hand to witness the bouts and support his compatriots.

Gorres is set to return to the Philippines Tuesday morning.