My recent commentary on the rumors of an upcoming fight between Nonito Donaire and WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel prompted Donaire to contact me in an attempt to set the record straight. ?I signed a two fight contract guaranteeing me to fight Montiel. All I’ve got to do is get past Sydorenko, and Montiel is the second guy that is guaranteed for me,? Donaire told me during our brief conversation. A victory on December 4, 2011, and Montiel?s signature on the dotted line are all that are needed to make this exciting fight a reality.
Donaire, the former flyweight and super flyweight champion, also talked about his upcoming fight with Volodymyr Sydorenko, his frustrations over not being able to land big fights, the Vic Darchinyan saga, and more.
Tim Harrison: Nonito, I understand you just finished training for the day, how have your first few days of camp been going?
Nonito Donaire: It’s going pretty good so far. Next week or so, will be doing two sessions of sparring just to get me going, you know?
TH: Okay. I know you’ve got your first trip up to the bantamweight division coming up. You?re facing Volodymyr Sydorenko, a former champion, but you?re hoping for a bigger fight with Fernando Montiel in early 2011. Can you give us any specifics on what you hope to finalize for that fight?
ND: Well, I signed a two fight contract guaranteeing me to fight Montiel. All I’ve got to do is get past Sydorenko, and Montiel is the second guy that is guaranteed for me. So, I’ve pretty much signed for a Montiel fight in February, and from what I’ve heard HBO has already set for the date of February 19.
TH: HBO is pretty tight-lipped regarding their schedule this early on. Are you certain that the fight will be on HBO on February 19?
ND: Yes. That’s the date given to us by HBO, from what my manager has told me, and the promoters, that HBO has given us that date.
TH: You said you signed a two- fight contract with top rank to fight Sydorenko and then Montiel. Is your current contract expired, or were you a promotional free-agent prior to signing this two-fight deal?
