MANILA, Philippines – ?Am I at this level, or am I at the elite level??
That?s the question Nonito Donaire Jr asked publicly of himself at a press conference at Araneta Center on Monday, March 2. It?s probably a question he?s been asking himself privately for the last several months
The 32-year-old Filipino-American boxer will be seeking a rebirth to his career when he faces William Prado on March 28 at Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines. Speaking of the relatively unknown Brazilian, Donaire mistakenly called him Prada – momentarily confusing him with the luxury bag brand – and admitted that the bout is just the first step towards definitively answering that question.
“To show that is to be overwhelmingly victorious in this fight in every way,? said Donaire. ?That will answer the question of whether Nonito Donaire is still capable of becoming world champion.?
Donaire (32-3-1, 21 knockouts) of San Leandro, California, will be fighting in his country of birth for the first time since his four-round knockout of Raul Martinez in 2009. It?ll also be the first time Donaire fights since the first knockout defeat of his career in October 2014, when he went down twice in a six-round loss to Nicholas Walters.
The loss prompted him to drop 4 pounds to the junior featherweight division, where he campaigned to win the 2012 BWAA Fighter of the Year award, and start anew.
?Physically and emotionally, it wasn?t hard to recover for me because I just kinda admitted defeat. And that was the easiest thing: admitting your defeat and realizing that you?re human. Now it?s time to rise and be better,? Donaire told Rappler.
?I?m thankful that my function is well, I can talk properly, nothing was really permanently damaged, and I got a second chance to do it again. And now, it?s time to take advantage of the time that I have, which is to learn.?
(READ: Donaire favors Pacquiao over Mayweather)
Prado (22-4-1, 15 KOs) is a significant step-down in class for Donaire, who had faced 12 straight world champions prior to this fight. In Prado?s two attempts to step up in class, he lost a decision to one future WBO bantamweight titleholder Paulus Ambunda in 2012 and was knocked out in three rounds by future WBA junior featherweight titleholder Scott Quigg in 2013.
Both Ambunda and Quigg won world titles in their next fights.
?I don?t know anything about him, really, except that he?s Brazilian,? conceded Donaire. ?This is what they?ve given me and I said okay.?
Family Affair
Donaire Jr was not accompanied by his constant companions, wife Rachel and their son Jarel Michael. Rachel is currently back home in the US pregnant with their second son, whom they will name Jarel Logan.
Donaire says the couple has developed an affinity for the name Jarel as it stands for ?Jun and Rachel?s everlasting love,? and the middle name Logan because that?s the government name of Donaire?s favorite X-Men character Wolverine.
?I?m a big Marvel fan, comics fan, anim? fan, so I grew up with it, and that?s why? if I have another son, it will probably be Ronin,? said Donaire, who cites Bleach, Ninja Scroll, Fairy Tail and the boxing-themed show Hajime No Ippo as his favorite anim? programs.
