MANILA, Philippines – There have been plenty of fights where Nonito Donaire Jr has had to wear sunglasses afterwards to conceals his battle marks.
Thursday?s press conference was one of the few times that the Filipino-American boxer has opted to wear them before a fight. Donaire Jr brought out the shades early as he sat upon the dais to discuss his fight on Saturday against Brazilian William Prado at Araneta Coliseum in Metro Manila, Philippines.
When he removed them to address the crowd, his face was noticeably sucked in and his eyes appeared squinty. At age 32, the four-division champion is moving back down to the junior featherweight division for the first time in two years – since his defeat to Guillermo Rigondeaux – in hopes of reinvigorating his career. It?s a sacrifice that he?s all too familiar with.
?For everybody that goes through making weight, it?s always a process. There?s never a world champion that doesn?t go through that,? said Donaire, who is stepping down to the weight where he won the BWAA Fighter of the Year award in 2012, following his knockout loss to Nicholas Walters in October.
?It?s something that we?re used to and it?s something that we?re capable of. There?s never once where I failed to make a weigh-in.?
The William Prado fight will be Nonito Donaire’s first at 122 since his 2013 loss to Guillermo Rigondeaux. Photo by Mark Cristino
Donaire no-showed the media workout on Tuesday and was seen chewing gum and spitting in a cup at Wednesday?s Gabriel ?Flash? Elorde Awards ceremony.
For this camp, Donaire (32-3, 21 knockouts) trained for two weeks at the ALA Gym in Cebu City, sweating it out in the tropical heat that routinely hit the upper 80s. There he has sparred between 50-60 rounds with Filipino boxer Roli Gasca and Japanese contender Ryo Akaho (25-1-2, 17 knockouts), who fights Prosper Ankrah (24-4, 15 KOs) on the undercard.
Donaire?s father/trainer Nonito Donaire Sr didn?t appear concerned about his son?s ability to make weight, however.
?He?s gonna make 122 easy. I?m pretty sure he?s going to be a world champion again.?
(READ: For Nonito Donaire, father really knows best)
How well Donaire Jr responds to the Walters loss, where he suffered his first two knockdowns and first stoppage defeat, will determine whether a step down in weight will be the reinvention he has looked for.
?That?s a question that a lot of people have after this previous fight. I?ve never gone down in my life, there?s a lot of questioning there in terms of do I still have it? I?ve lost it perhaps for a couple of years, people thought I was done and the thing about people is that we try to reinvent ourselves. I do feel that I?ve found that key to rise again.
?I?m not walking past Prado, who is an excellent fighter and a very dangerous fighter.?
Both Donaires agree that the Walters fight has led to a shift in training. Before, Donaire Jr called the shots in the gym, and now he?s actively seeking out his father?s input during sessions. Donaire Sr feels his son has to be more of a boxer-puncher than a slugger to prolong his career, a realization that Donaire Jr has slowly come to accept.
?The thing about me now is that I?ve changed completely from a fighter with so much pride to a fighter who is thankful for everything,? said Donaire, who is fighting in his birth country for the first time since 2009. ?The moment that I got up off that canvas I was just thankful that I wasn?t hurt, that I wasn?t damaged. With that mentality, all I needed was to look forward to being better.
?I was never haunted by that defeat. I was never depressed in any way that it was haunting or daunting or any way negative in my brain. All I did was to rise up and be better. It brought me a new life to be a positive person and seek betterment.?
Prado looks for upset win
At the end of the dais, Prado was the subject of a peculiar mixup. Prado?s first language is Portuguese, but answered well when the Spanish translator unwittingly translated questions for him. After a moment of confusion, it was revealed that Prado spoke seamless English.
?Anybody can give Donaire a good fight at this point,? said Prado (22-4-1, 15 KOs) of Sao Paolo, Brazil. ?If I beat him, this will change my life.?
