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FILIPINO
world flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. wants to get
rid of his upcoming challenger first before thinking
about his future.
In an
overseas interview with Sports Radio, Donaire said he is
not taking his title challenger lightly as their
12-round world flyweight title fight nears.
“I know
he wants my belt badly. This fight is equally important
for me. If it’s God’s will that I win this fight so be
it,“ said Donaire.
 The
25-year-old Donaire will stake his International Boxing
Federation (IBF) flyweight belt against Luis Maldonado
of Mexico Sunday morning (Manila time) at the Foxwoods
Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.
Maldonado, 29, is no easy prey as he has scored a draw
with current World Boxing Council (WBC) super-flyweight
champion Christian Mijares of Mexico. He has compiled a
record of 37-1-1 with 28 KOs.
Donaire
yesterday said he weighed 113 lbs or just a pound over
the flyweight limit.
“I know
my body and making the weight won’t be a problem. I just
watch my diet,” said Donaire.
Since
arriving in the US last weekend, Donaire started to
taper off by running every morning and doing the mitts
with father and trainer Nonito Sr. Donaire trained for
more than a month at the famed ALA Boxing Gym in Mandaue
City, Cebu.
Donaire’s first title defense will be shown not only on
Philippine TV via GMA 7 and Solar Sports but will also
be beamed on closed circuit TV inside the Araneta
Coliseum, site of the first-rate “Payback” boxing.
Donaire
(18-1, 11 knockouts) won the crown with a spectacular
one-punch knockout in the fifth round against
Armenia-born Australian Vic Darchinyan in May 7, also in
Connecticut.
If he
gets past Maldonado, Donaire wants to challenge anyone
among the other flyweight champions.
The
other belt holders whom Donaire is targeting are WBC
ruler Daisuke Naito of Japan, World Boxing Association (WBA)
champion Tekefumi Sakata, who is also a Japanese, or
World Boxing Organization (WBO) kingpin Omar Narvaez of
Argentina.
“I leave
it all to my manager but I want to fight the best.
That’s what the fans want,” said Donaire.
The
official weigh-in will be held tomorrow. |
