Moments before his weigh-in yesterday for his bout with South Africa?s Jeffrey Mathebula, I caught up with WBO junior featherweight champion Nonito Donaire.
Donaire faces Mathebula, the division?s IBF belt holder, tonight in an HBO-televised attraction from the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. It had been a minute since I had crossed paths with Donaire, who moved his training camp back up to the Bay Area for this particular defense, and he was in a bit of a rush along with some team members as he made his way to the elevators to go upstairs and handle some business before weighing in.
Still, walking alongside Donaire, I was able to exchange some words with him in an effort to get a gauge on where his mind was at.
Asked if he saw anything different about the 5?11? Mathebula compared to his past opponents, Donaire had little praise to offer.
?He?s tall, that?s it,? stated Donaire, slightly grinning.
Donaire claimed the WBO bauble he now holds with a split-decision over Puerto Rico?s Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. on February 4th that was in actuality a clear victory. Still, Donaire, who broke his left hand in the fight, feels that he could have performed at a higher level.
?I thought I could have done better,? said Donaire. ?I couldn?t do much about the broken hand. I did what I needed to do.?
Donaire trained for the Vazquez duel at the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas, where he also owns a residency, and he felt the need to move his regimen back to his bases of the Undisputed Boxing Gym in San Carlos for a greater focus.
?I needed to work harder,? Donaire admitted. ?I needed to not let anything get in my way. I felt that I was training so-so for Vazquez. This time I trained tremendously, above and beyond.?
The last question I was able to get in was simply whether or not it was hard for Donaire to focus on Mathebula with so many other names floating around at 122 pounds, including the likes of Toshiaki Nishioka, Abner Mares, and Guillermo Rigondeaux.
One day Donaire hopes to face at least one of the above-mentioned trio, yet he has no problems taking everything in stride.
?No, because I?m always the one to go step by step,? said Donaire.
