CEBU CITY, Philippines ? After some anxious moments, Nonito Donaire Jr. tipped the scales a shade under the super-bantamweight limit then declared his eagerness to stop his Hungarian challenger at the open-air Cebu City Sports Center Saturday.
Donaire said he got up Friday morning at 125 to 126 pounds, which was four pounds over the limit. His eyes almost popped looking at the scales, and so he ran to the sauna room of the Waterfront Hotel, and lost two pounds in just 30 minutes.
It took the 33-year-old WBO super-bantam champion awhile to show up at the official weigh-in at the Ayala Center here in the heart of Cebu, and by the time he got there at noon he was on weight. He tipped the scales at 121 1/2 pounds.
The Hungarian challenger, Zsolt ?Mr. Right Hook? Bedak, a veteran of the 2004 Athens Olympics, had no trouble making 121 1/2 pounds.
?I got worried. I underestimated my weight. I was just two pounds over Thursday and thought I could lose a pound at night and then another in the morning. I drank water but when I weighed in at 6 a.m. today I was 125 or 126. My body panicked,? he said.
After the weigh-in, Donaire and his entourage, including his wife and kids and their American bodyguards, headed to the nearest Italiani?s to load up. He had pasta and chicken and bananas for lunch, and said he felt ?amazing and good.? Sportshub ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
?I felt dry this morning. My body panicked. But I made weight and now I feel good. I feel rehydrated. I have enough time to recover,? said Donaire, who will defend the crown he won back last December with a unanimous decision over Cesar Juarez in Puerto Rico.
Donaire said he plans to climb the ring Saturday at 132 to 134 pounds.
During the staredown with Bedak, the ?Filipino Flash? tried to size up his Hungarian opponent, and said he liked what he saw.
?It was good. We did out staredown and I feel different. He stood his ground but I felt so confident. I felt like I can overwhelm him with my energy and intensity. I felt like I can swallow him up,? Donaire told reporters as he tried to finish off a bowl of pasta.
In the main undercard, unbeaten Filipino Mark Magsayo (13-0) faces an acid test against Mexican-American Chris Avalos (26-4) in their 12-round battle for the vacant WBO International featherweight crown. They both weighed in at 125 pounds.
Donaire, close to two inches taller than the 5-foot-4 Bedak, horsed around with his three-year-old son Jarel, as he faced scribes from Manila.
His father and trainer, Nonito Sr., said they ran through tapes of Bedak?s fights, at least four of them, and said they?re confident heading to the fight.
?We worked hard in training. We?re prepared. We?re ready,? he said.
Bedak, through an interpreter, said he?s ready for anything that might happen.
?If it goes 12 rounds we?re prepared to go 12 rounds. If I have to box I will box but if I have to fight I will fight. Whatever it takes to win. But I didn?t come here just to put my hands up and run around,? he said.
It?s hot and humid here in Cebu as in other parts of the country, but it doesn?t bother the Hungarian visitor, saying, ?No. It?s beautiful. The sunshine. It?s warm, too, in Hungary.?
Donaire said he visited the fight venue the past few nights, emulating the time he?d climb the ring. He said it?s not too bad at night but added they?ve prepared on how to stay hydrated if the night lasts long.
?I?ve been taking electrolytes, salt and sodium,? he said.
Organizers from ALA Promotions and Top Rank expect a crowd of close to 18,000 to troop to the venue, and as early as a few days ago, Cebu newspapers carried ads on traffic rerouting for what should be the biggest fight here in years.
Donaire said as long as he lands his right hook early, then there should be no problem during the fight. In previous interviews he said a knockout could come inside six rounds.
?Bedak is known as Mr. Right Hook but I feel my right hook is stronger. I feel good in this fight. I sparred 12 rounds and felt I could go 15. Never in my career have I felt as strong after sparring 12 rounds,? said Donaire.
?We will see. It?s not decided here. It?s decided in the ring. No matter what they say,? said Bedak after the weigh-in, with a can of Coke in his hand.
He?s hoping for a big win that could carry him toward a rematch with Guillermo Rigondeaux, who dethroned the Filipino in 2013, or a shot at IBF and WBA super-bantam champion Carl Frampton.
?I know I?m going to get it. That?s why I want to build up my name. I have the belt and will try to get the other belts. I?m willing to fight them. I want to fight them,? said the 2012 Fighter of the Year.
But first he needs to ?swallow up? his Hungarian foe.
