The objective is unification but if the other so-called ?world? champions refuse to cooperate, IBF flyweight titlist Nonito Donaire Jr. said the other day he?ll fight whoever is available to follow in Manny Pacquiao?s footsteps.
Donaire, 24, will make the first defense of his crown against Mexican Luis Maldonado in Connecticut on Dec. 1.
Although he?s not looking past Maldonado, Donaire said unification is in his sights.
?I want to be the undisputed world champion,? said Donaire. ?But the Japanese champions (WBA?s Takefuni Sakata, WBC?s Daisuke Naito) and the guy from Argentina (WBO?s Omar Narvaez) are avoiding me. If I have to go to Japan to fight Sakata or Naito or both, I?ll do it. I don?t pick venues for my fights. I don?t care whom I fight. I?ll fight anyone out there.?
Donaire said if a unification fight can?t be arranged, he won?t stay much longer in the 112-pound division.
?I?ll just move on,? said Donaire. ?I can?t wait forever for those guys. I don?t mind moving up to 115 to fight Christian Mijares or Fernando Montiel or Jorge Arce. I?ve fought as a superflyweight before. Arce?s a great fighter and I prefer to fight him now before he starts slowing down.?
Donaire said the sky?s the limit in his career.
?I think I?ll mature all the way to superfeatherweight like Manny,? said Donaire. ?Manny won his first world title as a flyweight. That?s where I am now. And Manny?s now fighting as a superfeatherweight. I can take the championships in the 115, 118, 122, 126 and 130 pound divisions. It?s just a matter of time and discipline. If I do my best, I can do it.?
No Filipino has won more than two world titles in different divisions. On record, Pacquiao has claimed titles in the flyweight and superbantamweight classes. He gained recognition as the people?s world featherweight champion by Ring Magazine but not by an official governing body. Pacquiao is widely considered as the world?s top superfeatherweight today.
Donaire is now training at the ALA gym in Cebu. He plans to return to San Leandro, California ? where he lives with his parents ? on Nov. 24 then set up in Connecticut at least four days before the Maldonado fight.
Donaire said he?ll use his brains to beat Maldonado.
?My strength is I?m a thinking fighter,? he said. ?I can predict what my opponent will do by studying his movements. If he has a weakness, I?ll find it. If he does something different in the ring, I?ll adjust. I?ve got speed and power. The older I get, the stronger I am. I?m very confident of my reflexes. I can anticipate my opponent?s punches so I?m difficult to hit. I make my opponent think he can hit me but he can?t. So when he tries to move in, I?ll counter.?
Donaire said his idols are the throw-back, old-school legends like Sugar Ray Robinson and Sugar Ray Leonard.
?When I was younger, in the amateurs, I idolized Leonard,? said Donaire. ?Robinson was my other idol. He was great to watch, very brave. He never chose his opponents. He had a warrior?s mentality. He was always out to prove he was the better fighter. Today, a lot of the champions are pampered and their opponents are handpicked.?
Donaire said he hopes to grow up like Oscar de la Hoya.
?Off the ring, Oscar has done so much for boxing and boxers,? said Donaire. ?I?d like to become like Oscar, promote fights, mold champions. I?d like to give honor to the Philippines.?
Donaire said the recognition from the Filipino fans is an inspiration.
?It makes me work harder because I don?t want to let them down,? he said. ?It?s not really pressure. It?s more a motivation. For me, there?s no option but to push myself to the limit in the gym or in the ring. Winning isn?t for me. It?s for my family, friends, my loved ones and the fans.?
A high school graduate, Donaire said he eventually intends to earn a college degree.
?Right now, I?m not in school because I?m too focused in my boxing career,? he said. ?I don?t want to win and flunk in class. I read a lot and that?s how I learn new things. My plan is to enrol in a course where I can learn about nutrition, the body, physical therapy and exercise. Someday, I?ll open my own gym, manage my own fighters and promote my own fights.?
