IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire, Jr. has never trained as hard for anyone in his boxing career and that?s because he?s not taking any chances against unbeaten challenger Raul (Cobra) Martinez when they get it on at the Araneta Coliseum on April 19.
Donaire, 26, has gone over 100 rounds of sparring for Martinez and he?s still not done. It?s his obsession to put on an unforgettable show before local fans who expect nothing less from the Flash.
The fight is set Sunday morning and will be aired live on US pay-per-view prime time. A spectacular performance will also cement Donaire?s place as a marquee attraction in the lucrative US media market.
Donaire knows the big money lies beyond the flyweight division. Down the road awaits a rematch with undisputed superflyweight champion Vic Darchinyan whose only loss was to Donaire via a fifth round knockout. Another dream opponent is Fernando Montiel who captured the WBO bantamweight title just a few days ago.
But first things first. Donaire isn?t looking past Martinez whom he once beat when they were amateurs.
?I?ve studied his style carefully from tapes of his last four fights,? said Donaire. ?I?m not totally relying on what I saw in those tapes. I?m sure he?ll adjust his style to mine so he?ll probably do things that didn?t show in the tapes. I?ll just fight my fight. I?ll figure him out as the fight develops. I like to create and don?t depend a lot on tapes. If I expect him to fight a certain way and he doesn?t, it could throw off my whole fight plan. I just go out there and make him fight my fight.?
Donaire, however, said there are things he?ll watch for.
?He?s got decent speed and he likes to pin his opponents against the ropes,? he said. ?If you stay in front of him, he?ll release a volume of punches. So the key is to move away and move around. He throws a hard left hook and a strong overhand right, his two favorite punches. His footwork is good but there?s a flaw in his balance. He basically releases a jab-hook, double-hook combination. I?m not looking past Martinez but I don?t think he has a chance against me.?
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Tomorrow, Donaire and his training party will drive down from Baguio City to set up camp in Alabang. He?ll finish up his preparations at the Elorde gym in Sucat.
?I feel great,? said Donaire yesterday after sparring 12 rounds. ?I?ve been eating everything and I?m not deprived of rice, ribs and steaks. My weight is around 118 to 119. I usually lose six to seven pounds on a training day so I?m on track. It?s not like how it was when I trained for (Luis) Maldonado and (Moruti) Mthalane. I cut down on my food intake for weeks before both fights. Now, I?m training three hours a day and sweating it out.?
Last Wednesday, Donaire?s wife Rachel came in his place for the Elorde Boxing Awards Night at the Manila Hotel Tent City. Donaire couldn?t take off from Baguio where he has been holed up in training for Martinez.
?I knew she would represent me well,? said Donaire. ?She?s a strong woman and can hold her own in any situation.?
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Rachel?s parents Gerry and Becky Marcial flew in from the US and watched their daughter accept Donaire?s award on stage.
?It was a bit intimidating being in such a prestigious awards ceremony,? said Rachel. ?I was hoping to be joined by the other fighters? wives. But the Elorde family, especially Liza and Cucuy, made me feel so welcome.?
In her acceptance speech, Rachel said: ?First off, I would like to apologize for the absence of my husband Nonito as he is in Baguio preparing for his April 19th title defense. I?m sure that if he were here, he would thank God for bestowing unto him his talents and blessings, to his family for standing by his side and his fans for their words of encouragement before, during and after every fight. Finally, he?d thank the Elorde family for their tireless efforts in keeping Philippine boxing alive and for staging this event to help us remember past champions, honor present warriors and most importantly, inspire our future Philippine boxing champions.?
Rachel said a highlight of the Awards Night was watching 2005 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and 2008 World Championships silver medalist Annie Albania score a win on a stoppage in 20 seconds during the Philippines versus Thailand dual meet. ?It?s great to see a girl fight with so much power and confidence,? said Rachel. ?I?d love to see her fight again.?
