DONAIRE ARRIVES SAYS HE?S ?A MAN ON A MISSION?
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 01 Mar 2015
Five division world champion and 2012 ?Fighter of the Year? Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire arrived in Manila early Sunday morning and said he is ?man on a mission? and ready to put on a show when he appears on ALA Promotions ? ABS-CBN?s ?Pinoy Pride 30? at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on March 28.
Arriving with Nonito was his father/trainer ?Dodong? Donaire while Nonito?s wife Rachel who is expecting their second child in May stayed behind in the US.
Donaire who is returning to the super bantamweight division where he was highly successful, will face William Prado of Brazil in a comeback fight following his crushing 6th round stoppage at the hands of the much bigger and stronger featherweight champion Nicholas ?Axe Man? Walters of Jamaica.
Donaire who has been training at his father?s Boxing and Fitness Gym, in Oakland, California has looked sharp and has sparred with three different fighters but said that lightweight Jesus Partides ?gave me some great sparring.?
Donaire who will join longest reigning Filipino world champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes who will defend his title against Gilberto Parra of Mexico who has an impressive record of 17 knockouts in 19 wins, and undefeated super bantamweight Prince Albert Pagara who is ranked No. 7 by the IBF and also has a tough battle on his hands against Mexico?s North American Boxing Organization super bantamweight champion Rodolfo ?Fofo? Hernandez who has an impressive record of 24 knockouts in 26 wins with 5 losses and 1 draw in a big press conference at Gloria Maris on the 4th floor of the Gateway Mall on Monday at noon.
Donaire said he was ?excited to be here to finally train and fight? and aside from ?a little jet lag I?m great. So far, so good.? He will be making his first appearance in a fight in April 2009 at the Araneta Coliseum when he scored a smashing 4th round TKO over Raul Martinez to win the IBF/IBO flyweight titles dropping Martinez four times en route to the win with boxing fans once again looking forward to seeing him in action.
Donaire said he is ready in terms of training and would put the finishing touches to his preparation at the famed ALA Gym in Cebu for two weeks after doing some promotional work with the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN.
Obviously motivated because of his disappointing loss to Walters who was in trouble late in the second round but was saved by the bell, Donaire said he wants ?to put on a really fine performance? against Prado who has a record of 22-4-1 with 15 knockouts.
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