In speaking with Nonito Donaire it becomes very clear that the interim WBA Super flyweight champion has done a lot of reflecting as of late. After proclaiming his desires to face the likes of Vic Darchinyan, Eric Morel, and Fernando Montiel to no avail, Donaire was admittedly frustrated at his recent situation but has had some time to put everything into perspective and now speaks with appreciation for everything that is still possible in his career.
Donaire is scheduled to face off with once beaten Hernan ‘Tyson’ Marquez this Saturday night in San Juan, Puerto Rico and seems to realize the importance of the contest, even if it isn?t particularly the desired bout he is seeking at the moment. Thought by some to be too good for his own good, a victim of his own gifts in the ring, Donaire has set aside any negativity and seems to realize that his time will come if he is able to get past his Sonora, Mexico foe this weekend.
Donaire recently spoke with the Examiner about a myriad of topics from his upcoming fight, his thoughts on WBO Bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel, the support from his personal team, as well as the thoughts on Showtime?s main event Saturday night between WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez and Bernabe Concepcion. Donaire is coming off of 3rd round TKO over Manuel Vargas this past February at the Hilton in Las Vegas, Nevada and is looking to carry his momentum into the ring with him.
In his own words this is what Donaire had to say?
Waiting for July 10th? ?How do I get this over with? I?m hungry as hell. I?m very hungry. I am pretty much just focusing on what I need to do. A lot of the focus has been on making weight, just maintaining and that?s pretty much what I have been working on. In the gym I have been focusing on my strategy and what I need to do. That?s pretty much it. It?s just the waiting game for me now.?
A focused camp.. ?I trained at Undisputed in San Carlos. I?ve been working on plyometrics to get my legs stronger. I am on this new team with Victor Conte. It?s been good for me, this whole training camp I?ve been focused. I had an on and off training schedule and I didn?t want to train anymore, so when I had the go signal it took me a while to start training. With hypoxic training, which is a high altitude stimulation, I can feel myself getting in the shape I need to be in.?
Different this time? ?I don?t really know if I am going to come with a different type of game plan I just know that it is going to be a very exciting fight. I just feel it?s going to be different this time around. We?re looking forward tot his fight. I?m trying to do something different this time around so for now it?s pretty much what he comes in with and see if I can work off of his flaws and see what goes on from there.?
In God?s hands? ?I can?t be selfish and think of it in a negative way because Robert Garcia and Steven Luevano came out and helped me out. Jonothan Penalosa helped me with the mitts, round after round. There is really no other mentality then to go into this ring to do the best that I can and be appreciative of everything and everyone who has given me support, including my fans who have been there for me. You can?t really go thinking of being selfish about what you what. I think time will tell and my time will come. I put it in God?s hands, that?s pretty much it. I trained hard and I confident of the people I have around me.?
Thoughts on WBO Bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel? ?We always wanted to fight Montiel. Especially now that I am moving up in weight. There is no way that I am fighting at 115 again. A fight with Montiel we would definitely want to make happen. He?s a great champion, he?s always been a great champion throughout, and that?s the kind of guy I want to mix it up with in the ring. He just defeated one of the top Bantamweight champions in Hozumi Hasegawa and I think that Montiel is on top of his game. If he wants this fight to happen I am here.?
Assessing Juan Manuel Lopez vs. Bernabe Concepcion? ?Concepcion has power. When you have somebody in there who has power it?s always a dangerous game. What Lopez has to his advantage is being on his home turf. I put a lot of faith in that Concepcion is going to do well against Lopez but Lopez is a champion and he?s been there before as well, especially in front of his people. He has a lot of energy behind him. It?s something that I will be watching and Lopez will tell me whether or not he is still on top. It?s always good to see a great fight.?
The beauty of Puerto Rico? ?I?ve never been to Puerto Rico. I?m excited to be there, regardless of what happens and how things may be I am going to enjoy my time out there and it is going to be really fun. I?m going to take a little vacation afterwards and enjoy the beauty of Puerto Rico as well. I?m just excited for this fight to go and I?m ready to get this over with.?
Dismissing the recent drama surrounding Robert Garcia and Brian Viloria? ?That?s between Robert and Viloria. I don?t really talk to him about anything like that. We just talk about strategy and everything is really off my hands. For me, I have just been focused for this fight and we have been trying new things for this fight. We are just focused on that. That?s all that has been in my mind. Taking the things we have learned in the gym and we are eager to show it. We?re focusing on my opponent and that?s all that matters now. That?s all that matters now.?
Support beyond boxing? ?I met my wife. It wasn?t through boxing but it was at a boxing fight that I had met her. And she seemed really awesome and she has done everything that I wanted to do. She?s very helpful in terms of the training camps. She?s just been really excellent. I found a lot of great people. Even boxing fans, being around boxing fans is just a blessing. You can?t believe how much determination and energy you have knowing that people are watching and believing in you. I met one of my good friends, Michael Bazzel, who is my strength trainer. The people at Undisputed have been really awesome with me. They are just good people and it?s such a blessing meeting with these people. I mean you see their heart. These guys are good at what they do and at the same time they are just good people and I am just proud to meet good people along the way. Not to say that I didn?t meet any bad people as well, but the people that I have now are the blessing that I have and they are the people who are going to be with me, even beyond boxing. It?s just been a family for me.?
Nonito Donaire is regarded by many as one of the top 5 pound for pound fighters in the world. All that seems to be eluding the Bohol, Philippines native at the moment is a big opportunity against another big named opponent. Click on the collage below for images of Nonito Donaire in and out of the ring?
