IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. said yesterday he?ll be more aggressive than usual in pressing Mexican challenger Luis Maldonado and look for an early knockout in their 12-round title bout at the Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut, on Dec. 1.
Donaire, who arrived in Cebu from the US last Monday to train for five weeks, described Maldonado as a switch-hitter who likes to attack the body.
?I?ve studied his style,? said Donaire, making the first defense of the crown he won by stopping Vic Darchinyan with a single left hook to the jaw in the fifth round last July. ?He?s a typical Mexican fighter with lots of movement, lots of punches. He tries to wear you down. He has some power although most of his knockouts came at the expense of nobodies in Mexico. I?ll use my speed and power against him. And I?ve got the smartest coach in my corner, my dad (Nonito Sr.).?
Maldonado, 29, has a record of 37-1-1, with 26 KOs. His only loss was an eighth round knockout to Darchinyan in Las Vegas last year. He has since won four in a row, including a recent decision over Sergio Espinoza in a title eliminator.
?I?ll get in his face,? vowed Donaire. ?I won?t let him hit me. If he moves in, I?ll counter like what I did to Darchinyan. I won?t give him angles. I?ll use lateral movement. I could box and counter him or just try to overpower him.?
Donaire, 24, said he chose to train in Cebu because of more suitable conditions.
?It?s too cold in California right now,? said Donaire. ?I think it?s easier for me to lose weight in Cebu where it?s hot and humid. Besides, the Wild Card Gym is getting too crowded and I?m not the first priority in climbing into the ring to practice. In Cebu, I train at Mr. (Tony) Aldeguer?s gym which is first class and I get excellent sparring from Boom Boom (Bautista), A. J. (Banal) and Michael (Domingo).?
Donaire said he plans to log at least 60 rounds of sparring for Maldonado.
?I?m looking for quality, not quantity, sparring,? he said. ?When I trained for Darchinyan, I sparred mostly with my brother Glenn. In my last week of training, I did only seven rounds but it was hard sparring with (Diosdado) Gabi and a big, 140-pounder.?
Donaire said he alternates running on flat land and rolling hills in the morning to boost his stamina.
?I wake up at 5,? he continued. ?One day, I run around the oval track, doing four to six miles. The next day, I go up and down very steep hills, running about two miles. I don?t get these options in the US. I think I?m in shape with my lungs and cardio. When Manny (Pacquiao) fought (Marco Antonio) Barrera, I was 135 pounds. Now, I?m down to 126. It won?t be difficult going down to 112.?
Donaire said proper discipline, conditioning and nutrition are the keys to making the weight limit.
?I?ve learned to lose weight,? continued Donaire. ?I don?t eat rice. I don?t do carbs. I eat a lot of vegetables, fish and chicken on a rationed basis. I eat thrice a day, usually vegetables and tuna. I don?t go hungry. I make sure there?s always something in my stomach.?
Donaire has won his last 17 bouts and hasn?t lost since his second pro bout six years ago. His record is 18-1, with 11 KOs. The only stain was a loss on points to Rosendo Sanchez in Vallejo, California. ?I broke my hand in that fight,? he recalled. ?I gave it all I had and I thought I won. He was much bigger than me and I was really young. I wasn?t mentally prepared. I lost to Brian Viloria in the Olympic boxoffs the year before and I still couldn?t get over it. But I learned from that bump. It won?t happen again.?
