IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. said yesterday he is booked to stake his crown against mandatory South African challenger Moruti (Babyface) Mthalane at the Venetian Hotel in Macau on Oct. 11 and will train two months at the Aldeguer gym in Cebu to prepare for the fight.
Although Donaire admitted the fight contract has not been forwarded for his signature, he said his manager Cameron Dunkin and Top Rank are finalizing terms to seal the deal.
Donaire, 25, will get married to taekwondo star Rachel Marcial in Carmel, California, this month but is foregoing their honeymoon to continue training for Mthalane who gained the title crack by decisioning Australia?s Hussein Hussein in an eliminator in South Africa last month.
Donaire plans to fly to Cebu in two weeks with father Nonito Sr. who will supervise his workouts. His brother Glenn, a two-time world title challenger, will arrive later from the family?s San Leandro, California, base to assist in his training.
Expecting a large Filipino crowd to attend, Donaire said he?ll be inspired to put on a dominating performance.
?The closer I get to my home country, the more it inspires me to do my best,? said Donaire in an e-mail to The Star. ?Especially when there are many Filipinos chanting my name and pushing me to do better. I can?t guarantee a fight to remember but one thing is for sure, I?ll give it all I got and let the people know that I?m proud to be Filipino.?
Donaire said he expects Mthalane to come out smoking.
?Mthalane is not afraid to throw a lot of punches and made his way up by bullying his opponents and wearing them down,? he continued. ?I?ve watched four of his early fights on film and from the tapes, it looks like he loves to fight inside and pressure. He always comes to a fight in shape because he throws so many punches. If he needs to box, he does. This will be an exciting fight because he?ll come prepared and he?s not afraid to exchange. With his height, it makes his fighting style more dangerous.?
Donaire said the undercard is still being negotiated but he confirmed rumors that former world lightflyweight champion Jorge Arce of Mexico could be in the cast.
?Nothing is certain yet but we?re trying to get my brother Glenn in the card,? said Donaire.
Down the road, Donaire said he expects to move up to the superflyweight division and take on unified WBC/WBA champion Cristian Mijares or WBO titleholder Fernando Montiel or Arce in big money bouts.
?After my defense, I would go for a championship fight with the likes of Montiel and Mijares and if everything goes well, defend against Arce,? added Donaire. ?But that is all dependent on my manager and promoter.?
Donaire said he has begun running and working out in the gym.
?When I get to Cebu, I?ll be ready for sparring,? he went on. ?The more sparring I get, the more the whole thing comes back to me and comes together. I wake up now at 125 pounds. After I work out, I usually drop three to five pounds then regain it back after a good meal. I expect to train in Cebu for two months. My departure date hasn?t been set because I still haven?t signed the contract but we are looking at Aug. 15 at the latest.?
Donaire will be making the second defense of the 112-pound crown he won by knocking out Vic Darchinyan in Connecticut last year. His record is 19-1, with 12 KOs. Mthalane, who holds a one-round knockout win over Filipino Apol Suico, has a record of 22-1, with 15 KOs.
