Working out at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn, the 28-year-old, heavy-handed battler entertained fans and observers with spot-on impersonations of a wide range of fighters from Roy Jones Jr. to Oscar de la Hoya to Bruce Lee. Donaire even played the parts of Floyd Mayweather, Victor Ortiz, and referee Joe Cortez in a re-enactment of the controversial finish to the Mayweather-Ortiz bout last month.
Donaire would then go on to thrill those in attendance with an impressive exhibition of thudding pad work in preparation for his upcoming bout.
The Filipino-American champion will defend his WBC and WBO bantamweight titles this Saturday in his New York debut against 36-year-old former long-reigning flyweight and current super flyweight titlist, the undefeated Omar Narvaez. The contest, televised by HBO in the United States, will take place at the Theater of the legendary Madison Square Garden.
Having just re-affirmed his relationship with promoter, Bob Arum, this bout is expected to be merely a stepping stone to bigger and better bouts for Donaire, including a probable step up in weight in 2012. *******************
The Boxing Tribune Updated Bantamweight Rankings for October, 2011:
(The Boxing Tribune rankings are compiled via fair and even-handed formula, ranking fighters based on divisional activity and level of competition within a specified period of time)
1) Anselmo Moreno: 31-1-1 (11 KO) (WBA Champ)
2) Abner Mares: 22-0-1 (13 KO) (IBF Champ)
3) Nonito Donaire: 26-1 (18 KO) (WBO/WBC Champ)
4) Joseph Agbeko: 28-3 (22 KO)
