Five-division world champion Nonito Donaire is making sure that he is physically prepared and mentally focused on his upcoming fight against Cesar Juarez on December 11 at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Donaire (35-3-0, 23 KOs) is coming off two knockout wins since his stunning defeat against Nicholas Walters at the StubHub Center, Carson, California last year. At 32, Donaire needs be in top shape for his fight against Juarez ( 17-3-0, 13 KOs), who is rated No.2 by the WBO and is on his four-fight winning streak. “My goal is to get back on top. I am refocused for what I must do in the ring,” said Donaire. That’s why this fight in Puerto Rico is so important for me and my boxing career. I am reading a book called The Power of Habits. It is about getting rid of bad habits and instead using good habits each and every day. It all restarts for me on December 11,” he added. Donaire has learned well his lessons from his two major defeats which include his TKO loss against Nicholas Walters and his unanimous decision loss to Guillermo Rigondeaux. “I was knocking guys out so easily and it was like, ‘Why work 100 percent when I could do it at 10 percent?’ ” Donaire said. “Then I started fighting better, smarter opponents and after the Rigondeaux fight, I started to ask myself if I should keep fighting. “But it’s funny, after I got knocked out by Walters, it was more about who I was and how I needed to change. It was about being fulfilled. Donaire’s loss to Walters served as a wake up call for him to take the sport seriously or he is bound to be left out in the game that is is being dominated young aspiring fighters. “I don’t take anything for granted anymore. Every day is a blessing. I don’t want to waste time. i want to go beyond what I can do and not settle for being satisfied with what I’ve done,” Donaire said. Donaire, who has been reunited with his father-trainer Nonito Donaire, Sr. after more than four years of not talking to each other on personal and family differences, has realized he couldn’t be more effective without his father-trainer on his side.
