Ivan Montiel caught up with all action Puerto Rican star Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. to discuss his marquee bout with surging pound-for-pound star Nonito Donaire set for Feb. 4 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX.
Wilfredo thanks for taking the time to chat with the Fight Fans? What can you tell us about your upcoming Feb. 4 super fight against Nonito Donaire?
WV2: Nonito Donaire mentioned my name and said he wants to fight me. I am happy to give him this fight. We are going to work hard to win. God doesn?t make two people the same. Everybody has their very own talent. I have mine and he has his, that night we will put it all on the line so that the whole wide world can see that I still have the skills, that I am still motivated, that I trained very hard to beat Nonito Donaire. It won?t be an easy fight for me. It won?t be an easy fight for him.
I have respect for Nonito but I know if I touch him I can hurt him. He is moving up in weight and he?s thin and has nowhere else to grow. Now we have to see if he can absorb big punches from a kid that is 122 pounds one day and 135 pounds on fight night. He handled the 112 and 115 pound guys (who are much smaller)? but just imagine what I?ll do on fight night. It?s not the same comparing me to a 115-pounder.It?s going to be a great fight!
Here we have Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. who is preparing to fight Nonito Donaire ?The Filipino Flash? in a highly anticipated 122-pound bout set to take place Feb. 4 in Texas. Wilfredo how has training gone so far?
WV2: First of all my friend I would like to thank all of the fanatics who follow my career. Thanks for the all the support which in fact makes me a hit with the boxing public. My training camp for Donaire started in October so it?s been going on for quite some time? I was essentially training for it even before I fought Leyva. I was going to wait and not fight until the Feb. 4 Donaire bout but my father said its best not to be inactive so we decided to fight Leyva just to get our engine running. I am very calm, happy, passive and very confident in my work. I know this will be an excellent fight for me.
Talking about Leyva? before that fight you had a great war against Jorge Arce and although you lost for the first time you demonstrated the heart of a great champion. That fight was close and it?s unfortunate that it was stopped however you returned and stopped Leyva in 3 rounds. I would like to congratulate you on that win. I wish you the best in your next fight against Donaire who is already considered to be the next Manny Pacquiao. Can you talk a bit about that last year and the decision to face Nonito?
WV2: The loss doesn?t bother me. I am a kid who entered boxing without amateur fights yet I got to the major league and I challenged a great champion. I am thankful for God and what my father has taught me. I never thought I would get fights like this as I entered boxing as an adventure. Against ?El Travieso? Jorge Arce that wasn?t a loss, he only brought me more confidence. He had to bring out his entire encyclopedia to this kid that had no amateur background which brought me more satisfaction.
To know that he had to use all his tricks against a rookie? that brought me a lot of motivation. I have passed that page I demonstrated that I am learning that everything my father has taught me and now I have put to use in the ring. Little by little I have accomplished it my friend. Everybody has seen how much motivation I have how hard I work. Now I am in the big league to fight the big names.
Nonito Donaire mentioned my name and said he wants to fight me. I am glad to give him this fight. We are going to work hard to win. God doesn?t make two people the same. Everybody has their very own talent. I have mine and he has his, that night we will put it all on the line so that the whole wide world can see that I still have the skills, that I am still motivated, that I trained very hard to beat Nonito Donaire. It won?t be an easy fight for me. It won?t be an easy fight for him. It?s going to be a great fight!
Can you talk a bit about the strategy involved fighting a taller southpaw like Donaire?
WV2: Donaire is a southpaw and he is much taller than I am but trust me? I like to fight against taller guys because it?s easy! To have the same height and reach as an opponent is more difficult. Our reach is similar even though he?s an inch or two taller. I am very calm and very confident due to my great training camp. I have worked hard; I am going to give it my all. This is a great opportunity in which I have a chance to win back a title and that brings me a whole lot of motivation.
He?s a great boxer but he has to know that I am a great athlete. I have demonstrated it and I know that he will walk in with great respect. I also have respect for him but I know if I touch Nonito Donaire I can hurt him. He is moving up in weight and he?s thin and has nowhere else to grow. Now we have to see if he can absorb big punches from a kid that is 122 pounds one day and 135 pounds on fight night. He handled the 112 and 115 pound guys (who are much smaller)? but just imagine what I?ll do on fight night. It?s not the same comparing me to a 115-pounder. The good thing about Donaire is that he?s a clean fighter like me.
What happened with Arce? everyone thinks he won with his skills. He didn?t beat me with his skills. He beat me with his dirty tricks and he cut my eye. I don?t have to lie because everyone saw the fight, everyone saw me winning that fight! Every fighter has a bad night which brought me more motivation. Against Donaire I am going to win that fight. I am going to bring back that title here to Puerto Rico! It?s going to go right into my daughters hands!
IM: Speaking of Jorge Arce? Will we see a rematch?
WV2: No, let Jorge Arce know not to think about Wilfredo Vazquez Jr! He needs to forget me! He knows what we said to each other as we sat in that Las Vegas room. We shook hands and promised each other that whoever won would give the other a rematch. If I won I would give him the immediate rematch and he said the same. He didn?t keep his promise. He?s a coward who didn?t keep his promise therefore I can?t negotiate with him. I truly believe that when a man makes a promise he should keep it. I have hunger believe me I have hunger for him but I don?t feel obligated because he already failed me. I don?t have to give him a rematch since he didn?t keep his promise. I am calm and he knows the next time the end of the movie will be different one.
I am focused on Donaire. I am going to let things follow their way to bigger and better things because I know I am destined for the big leagues. I have lots of motivation thanks to God. I am going to continue to work harder like I have always said Wilfredo Vazquez Jr doesn?t fear big names. We are humans, we all have two hands, and we are all in good condition to put the work in the ring. I strongly believe that I will be the one raising my hands that night.
You?re young and starting to make many people believe that you will become the next Puerto Rican star like Gomez, Benitez and Trinidad? Can you talk about the fans?
WV2: I am very appreciative of everyone? both my countrymen here in Puerto Rico and fans everywhere. Yet I didn?t enter boxing to become a star. I am a normal kid who entered boxing for the opportunity to fight, make money and take care of my family. I am not here to become famous and I am not here to become a star. I am not here to become the next Manny Pacquiao or Felix Trinidad. I came here to work hard; I am very grateful for all the confidence everyone gives me and those who doubt me give me more motivation to work harder. I am going to win this fight! I am going to prove my doubters wrong. I know I have the power and condition, my body is ready for the 122 pound weight class again. I know I won?t have problems with Nonito Donaire? he will feel my hands! He wanted someone to fight against him? well he found me! I love to fight and hope he stands to fight me and not run. I want to be in another great fight! I am in great condition therefore I will give a great battle!
I know you saw Donaire fight Fernando Montiel? many people say it was the best KO of 2011. What were your thoughts when you saw Donaire knock out Montiel?
WV2: I was in Las Vegas and I noticed Montiel struggling to make weight. Usually after every weigh-in we fighters gain 8 to 10 pounds. When I saw Montiel walk out of the ring I noticed he looked weak. He was too skinny and too dry. That night was a great shot landed by Donaire with his eyes closed. He connected good, those things happen. It was a lucky punch! Nobody closes their eyes when throwing a great shot. It was a great shot and it was his night. I felt happy that two great fighters met with the better one winning. It?s not the same to fight with a man who could not make weight and that?s why Donaire dominated.
Now if we take a look at Donaire vs. Narvaez? Donaire got frustrated due to Narvaez?s great defense. Donaire doesn?t know how to respond against a counter puncher. He doesn?t know how to fight backwards. He only knows one thing and that?s to come forward. I also have that style so let?s wait and see when I hit him because I don?t have fear for him nor respect because we are both human beings. The only one I have respect and fear for is Christ who is in heaven. That night I am going to work! I am very calm, very confident. I am going to give it my all. I know he has lots of fanatics; lots of people look up to him. He has lots of pressure on him I no longer have that pressure. I already suffered my loss to Jorge Arce. I was undefeated but that has already passed. I lost and I feel more calm, more patient I am going to give it my all. People think he?s a star. This fight won?t be like many think because I am slick, I can punch and I absorb my opponent?s shots. I am in great condition and will come out victorious.
Can you speak about your condition after training through the holidays for this big fight?
WV2: I saw it in my dad. He taught me you have to have dedication in order to make it. I?ve already gone through many Christmas and I?ve enjoyed many holidays. I have to wait for my present this year and it?s going to to be becoming world champion. I had to leave my Christmas gatherings because after February 4 Santa Clause will give me my gift. I?ll continue to train hard so that I can become victorious come February 4.
Would you like to send out a message to Donaire?
WV2: I am calm and want him to do his work because I?m doing mine. I wish him all the best. I ask God that we don?t harm each other that night so that we can enjoy our loved ones. I am very prepared for that night. I am no push over! I won?t be a push over for him nor for any boxer out there! Never in my life will I be a push over! I am going to be in great condition; I am going to have fast hands. I am going to have good lungs to work hard for the full 36 minutes if necessary! If I can knock him out; finish him off earlier I will do it! Round by round I have what it takes to beat Donaire because he isn?t superman or some kind of super hero! We are two human beings, we both have two hands and we will both give it our all.
In closing what would you like to say to all your fans?
WV2: Well I would like to say to all my fanatics who support me it only motivates me to work harder. May God multiply everything you guys wish for me. May God help you guys become better. May God take care of you and your loved ones. Look to me as a friend I am only a normal friend as if I were to work at Burger King, McDonalds etc. The only difference is that I have to receive punishment in order to eat. I am very appreciative of everything and I am very happy. I want to wish all the best to everyone! Each and every one of you are part of my hits!
Thank you for taking the time we shall be watching you and supporting you as always in your fight against Donaire! Que viva Puerto Rico!
WV2: Que viva Puerto Rico! Que viva Ecuador! Que viva all of Latin America! For those of you who think there?s no opportunity out there well there is! I came out of nowhere with the help of a Puerto Rican residence! I learned to change the negatives to positives so that I can have more hunger to succeed. We need to kneel down ask God for everything and he will give you everything. It won?t happen right away but within time God will make it happen just like he made my dream come true. Thank you once again the sky?s the limit!
