IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. said yesterday if South African challenger Moruti Mthalane holds his ground to engage, it could mean an early finish to their 12-round title bout at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas this morning (Manila time).
At the weigh-in Friday afternoon, Donaire and Mthalane shook hands, smiled at each other and posed for pictures. But beneath the outward civility, there was a sense of brewing animosity that will be evident when they finally face off in the ring.
Donaire tipped the scales at 112 pounds, the flyweight limit, while Mthalane came in at 111. Both looked in excellent physical shape.
Although he hasn?t fought in nearly a year, Donaire said he?s ready to rumble.
?I?ve trained so hard for two months and I just want to get this over with,? said Donaire. ?There?s no pressure in my head. I?ve got to get past this guy before I think of anything else. I expect a tough guy in front of me. Mthalane has decent power and he?s a volume puncher who likes to wear out his opponent. He comes forward throwing a lot of punches so I?ll be prepared to handle that.?
Whether the fight will end early or not depends on what Mthalane brings to the table, said Donaire.
?If he opens up early, it?ll be an early finish,? said Donaire who was born in Talibon, Bohol, and grew up in General Santos City before moving to the US when he was nine. If he doesn?t engage, I?m ready to go 12 rounds. My rhythm will come as soon as I figure out his style. There?s no defense in his offense and there?s no offense in his defense. Sooner or later, I?ll break him down.?
Donaire said his long layoff won?t slow his pace.
?Once you?re in the ring, you?re fighting for your life,? he said. ?If you get hit, you want to hit back. There?s always danger in a fight. A fighter could get soft outside the ring but once that bell rings, his warrior?s mentality takes over.?
Donaire said when he began training for Mthalane two months ago, his weight was 130 to 135 pounds. ?I brought down my weight to 125 after a month then it wouldn?t go down and for a while, I really thought I couldn?t make 112,? he said. ?But I?m a disciplined fighter. I knew what I had to do. At the weigh-in, I was right on the money. This could be my last fight as a flyweight. I might move up to 115 or 118, depending on who?s out there and what my manager (Cameron Dunkin) and promoter (Top Rank) decide what?s best for my career. If the decision is for me to stay at 112, I can do that, too.?
