“You know what I like most about Filipino Flash?” inquired Big Steve during our Friday morning coffee at Starbucks on Western Avenue:” It’s as if he knows what is going to happen in the ring before it happens. He caught Montiel with a perfectly timed left hook. It was a thing of beauty. He did the same thing to Darchinyan a few years earlier, but it’s not just knock outs, it’s his ring awareness, only a handful of guys have that.”
Nonito Donaire (27-1,18KO) is to demonstrate his skills and ring awareness this Saturday, February 4th in San Antonio, Texas when he faces off against former champion, Wilfred Vasquez Jr (21-1-1,18KO) for the vacant WBO super bantamweight title. HBO will broadcast the contest live along with a middleweight championship bout between Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and Marco Antonio Rubio.
Twenty nine year old phenom, Donaire is determined to make 2012 his most productive year in boxing, but he is not overlooking Vasquez Jr despite his recent knock out loss to Jorge Arce.
“I think that he is very determined,” said Donaire about his Saturday night adversary:” I think that he is a type of kid that gets better as he goes to that ring. I am going to be facing the best Vasquez Jr coming to this fight; better than Arce fight, better than all the previous fights he had. That’s just a type of kid he is. He is very determined but he has nothing to lose with me. If I beat him, he is going to say he lost to a guy who is one of the top pound for pound.”
Las Vegas book makers strongly believe that Donaire will be victorious. They have Nonito as fifteen to one favorite at the time this article was being written. Nonito is very confident he is up to the task and his whole team feels the same way. The only guy who is not convinced is Wilfred Vasquez Jr. A proud Puerto Rican warrior with boxing in his genes, Vasquez will go into battle on February 4th with one thing on his mind.” I am in it to win it,” said Vasquez Jr about his intentions for the fight. That is why things got a little edgy in days prior to the bout; simply a good old fashioned rivalry. Both guys promise an exciting fight for the fans. Both guys weighed in within the 122 pound limit on Friday. Donaire was 121.6 was and Vasquez Jr was 122 even.
The biggest question for me is how Nonito will respond to punches from a bigger guy? No boxer ever won a match without getting hit with a possible exception of Willie Pep. “He barely gets hit,” exclaimed Nonito’s wife, Rachel:” He does get hit. It’s hard not to get hit in boxing.”
Another guy who rarely gets hit is newly crowned super bantamweight titlist from Cuba, Guillermo Rigondeaux. I had a dream that Guillermo and Nonito would fight each other later on this year, but Nonito did not seem excited about it.” It would be a boring fight,” he said.
Donaire’s promoter, Bob Arum agreed. Uncle Bob is looking to match talented Filipino/American star with Mexican banger, Jorge Arce. Top Rank is very enthusiastic about that fight because it’s a style match up that will produce fireworks and most probably a knock out.
Donaire who plans to stay at 122 pounds for a while looks forward to another challenge ahead.
“There are guys like Nishioka who I think is the most difficult one,” said Donaire:” The thing with him; he is taller and he is a southpaw. He has power in both hands. I think it’s the biggest challenge for me for this fight or for this weight. I think he is the most difficult guy to face and the most exciting fight for this weigh class.”
Don’t miss Nonito in action tomorrow against Vasquez Jr, live on HBO.
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