Challenger Raul Martinez of the US has a lot of respect for Filipino champion Nonito Donaire but everything goes out the window once he answers the bell on April 19 (April 18 in the US) when he attempts to capture the International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight crown.
“He?s a great champion and I respect him a lot but when the fight starts, my warrior mentality will kick in,” Martinez said in an interview yesterday from his training camp in Jarrell, Texas. “In the ring, I have no respect for anyone.”
“Donaire has what I want,” said Martinez, whose father is originally from Monterrey, Mexico,and his mother is from Texas, refering to the IBF 112-lb title that Donaire holds.
Martinez, nicknamed ?Cobra?, holds an unbeaten 24-0-0 win-loss-draw record with 14 knockouts and will be traveling to Asia for the first time although he?s been to Europe when he was still in the amateurs.
“Soon, I will be adjusting my watch to the local time there,” said the 27-year-old Martinez, aware that Manila is 13 hours ahead of Texas. “So, by the time I get there a week before the fight, I?d be well adjusted.”
Team Martinez is also composed of manager Lou Mesorana, chief trainer Fernando Castrejon and training assistants Joe Villanueva and Alberto Cruces.
Castrejon used to be the right-hand man in Mexico City of Nacho Beristian, acknowledged as Mexico?s greatest cornerman.
Martinez said he?s been training non-stop since December after he?d been promised a fight on the undercard of the Shane Mosley-Antonio Margarito showdown in late-January that obviously didn?t push through.
He was told to stay in shape after being assured to fight in February but still was unable to land a fight but is now delighted that a world title fight has come his way.
“It?s going to be 50-50. We are both hard-punchers,” said Martinez, who is also known as Mugzie, a nickname derived from his basketball idol, Tyrone “Mugsy” Bogues.
Solar Sports is staging the Donaire-Martinez duel in partnership with Bob Arum?s Top Rank Inc. at the Araneta Coliseum and the other world title fight on the same card features Brian Viloria, who will shoot for the IBF light-fly jewels of Mexican Ulises Solis.
