(FULL FIGHT-December 2, 2007)
FILIPINO world flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. has eyes only for world-class fighters.
After his successful first title defense, Donaire, 25, wants to face any of his cochampions or battle any of the titleholders above his current 112-lb kingdom.
“That’s what boxing is [about]. I want to fight the best fighters. There were people who said I was a one-punch wonder after [Vic] Darchinyan, but I came in there and did my thing. I guess my validation [has come]. I’m here to stay,” Donaire told ESPN.
Donaire (19-1 with 12 knockouts) is calling out anyone among World Boxing Organization (WBO) holder Omar Narvaez of Mexico, World Boxing Association (WBA) flyweight champion Takefumi Sakata, and WBC ruler Daisuke Naito to a unification bout anytime.
“I want to fight all the best fighters,” Donaire said. “Like my promoter [Gary Shaw] said, I’m ready to fight anybody from 112 pounds to 118. I’ll take them all down.”
Donaire-Darchinyan II?
Also an option for Donaire is a rematch with the brassy Darchinyan.
“I’d love to fight Darchinyan again,” Donaire said.
Donaire completely outclassed Mexican challenger Luis Maldonado of Mexico inside eight rounds the other day at the Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Connecticut.
Donaire battered his challenger with a good number of left hooks and right straights. One more vicious left uppercut forced referee Dave Dwyer to finally call a halt to the brutal assault at 1:16 of the 8th round.
Though it was considered by many as a sterling performance by Donaire, the newest sensation to come out of the Philippines admitted that he had some problems with his right hand and with his movements, particularly his footwork.
“I couldn’t get myself going. I just felt slow I couldn’t move. I didn’t have my legs. If I had my legs, it would have been an easier fight,” said Donaire.
Donaire revealed that a nagging problem about the way his hands are being wrapped happened during the Maldonado fight.
“It hurts from the first round but it’s nothing new,” Donaire said. “It was really hurting but I just kept saying, ‘You got to do it. You got to go forward.’”
Donaire and his father/trainer Nonito Sr. trained for about a month at the ALA Boxing Gym in Cebu where he sparred with RP flyweight champion Rocky Fuentes, flyweight contender Louie Bantigue and RP bantamweight boss Michael Domingo.
“I was 135, 140 lbs when I started training a month ago. I needed more time. I can make the weight but next time, if I get two months to train, it will be easier,” added Donaire.
Banal ready for prime time?
FOR having a splendid winning run at a young age, AJ “Bazooka” Banal has probably seen the end of his weaning age.
In an interview with the BusinessMirror, Banal’s manager Tony Aldeguer said he is now contemplating in making his ward a main eventer possibly for his next fight.
“He’s already ripe to be the headliner after his win yesterday,” said Aldeguer.
The 18-year-old Banal is coming off an impressive ninth-round technical knockout win over Mexican Jovanny “Bambino” Soto the other day at the Araneta Coliseum.
Banal, who now parades a record of 16-0-1 with 13 KOs, has fought all of his bouts beneath cards starred by his more established stablemates Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista, Czar Amonsot and Z Gorres.
Banal fights under the world-renowned ALA Boxing Gym owned by Aldeguer.
The sweatshop in Cebu has produced several world champions and international campaigners namely two-division world champion Gerry Peñalosa, ex-flyweight champion Malcolm Tuñacao, among others.
Banal’s win over Soto served as the supporting bout of the “Payback” boxing card topbilled by Bautista who also scored a unanimous decision win over another Mexican Antonio “Barrio” Meza in a 12-round WBO intercontinental super-bantamweight championship match.
“Kung ano’ng plano ng manager ko susundin ko lang. Bawat laban naman ay pinaghahandaan ko ng husto,” said Banal when asked about the prospect of headlining a major card.
Third Force Promotions president Noli Eala said they are planning to pit Banal against world super-flyweight champion Fernando Montiel of Mexico late next year.
“We’re interested in promoting that, maybe after two or three more tune-up fights for Banal,” said Eala in a radio interview.
Montiel is the longtime WBO super-flyweight ruler whose reign would have ended February of this year if not for a bum scoring and officiating in his first trip to Philippine soil.
Montiel escaped with a controversial 12-round split draw against Gorres as referee Sammy Viruet immediately deducted a point from the Filipino challenger for holding without giving an appropriate warning. What compounded the controversy was the decision of two of the three judges to score two rounds for Montiel which Gorres clearly won.
Eala’s fledgling outfit promoted Sunday morning’s successful international promotion that featured three regional title bouts. The TV telecast of the said promotion reportedly topped the afternoon ratings.
Eala’s group and Aldeguer, however, are so far only good up to Sunday’s card as no long-term deal is involved in their partnership. Eala said Third Force is also open to any boxer with potentials who are not under the ALA banner.
Aldeguer disclosed that there are suggestions for Banal to again fight beneath a major event, this time involving Gorres who will battle former world flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan of Australia in a 12-round world super-flyweight title eliminator on February 2.
“Negotiations are still ongoing but I think Gorres is capable of headlining this card even without Banal,” said Aldeguer “Right now the plan is to stage the Gorres-Darchinyan bout in Cebu.”
Aldeguer added that they are scouring world ratings of different organizations to tap a highly rated Mexican fighter for Banal. A possibility is to tap former three-time world title challenger Jose Navarro.
Navarro is coming off a close verdict loss to Russian Dimitri Kirilov in a 12-round battle for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) superflyweight belt held on October in Russia.
“It’s almost definite Banal will be the main event for his next fight next year and we will do that in Cebu,” said Aldeguer
“Not unless of course an offer from the US under a major world-title event is offered to us.”
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