DONAIRE DETERMINED TO MAKE A STATEMENT IN PRADO FIGHT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 02 Mar 2015
Five division world champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire wants to ?make a statement? in his clash with Brazil?s William Prado for the World Boxing Council North American Boxing Federation super bantamweight title at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on March 28.
Donaire told the Manila Standard/Viva Sports he is ?a man on a mission? who has realized the mistakes he made in his painful loss to Nicholas ?Axe Man? Walters which he ?needs to correct.?
Having trained for a couple of weeks under his father/trainer ?Dodong? Donaire at his Boxing and Fitness Gym in Oakland, California, believes they have done ?a really good job? where they have been ?working on a lot of strategy and being tricky after we realized what we did wrong.?
Although he is back at 122 pounds where he had his most successful year with four smashing victories and was named ?Fighter of the Year? even as he broke into the top 5 in the Ring Magazine pound for pound rankings, Donaire said ?I?m not going to close my doors to 126.?
However, he intends to concentrate on the super bantamweight division? to find out what I did wrong? in reference to his last fight against Walters.
Donaire conceded that his ?lack of patience? did him in as he became ?impatient to destroy anybody until I faced a bigger guy (Walters).? He admits ?it's time to be smart again? and he plans to make a statement in this fight and the next and then go after the world titles.?
Donaire will be returning to the Smart Araneta Coliseum where he demolished Raul Martinez of the United States in four rounds after dropping him twice in round one, once in round three and one more time in round four before referee Pete Podgorski stopped the fight at 2:42 of the 4th round.
Donaire who has a record of 33-3 with 21 knockouts will face Brazil?s William Prado who has a record of 22-4-1 with 15 knockouts and is reportedly an aggressive, come forward fighter.
Donaire said ?We?ll work on what style he?ll decide on and then we?ll figure it out. We?ll be more smart and box and hopefully make a statement again. We plan to do the right think and listen to the corner.?
To Nonito ?it's very exciting to be back in Manila. We want to be here so that all the people who follow my fights on TV will get a chance o see me live.?
Donaire?s father/trainer ?Dodong? Donaire told the Standard his son ?is physically and mentally strong and really motivated.?
?Dodong? Donaire maintained Walters was ?not really too strong and if he (Nonito) followed the game plan it could have been different? since he had Walters in trouble in the second round where the Jamaican was saved by the bell.
Regrettably, as ?Dodong? Donaire pointed out after Nonito ?saw some blood he changed his style. If he just took his time it may have been different? even as he said ?that?s past and it was a learning experience.?
?Dodong? Donaire said 122 is ?the best weight for Nonito. If he wins here no problem.?
He said his son?s ?speed is back. There?s no problem with his weight and we have almost a month to make the weight.?
Donaire said they are leaving for Cebu on Friday because ?there are a lot of good sparring partners at the ALA Gym? even as ?Dodong? Donaire noted that his son ?started training very early and his motivation is very high. He is a man on a mission who, in the past insisted on what he wanted but now he listens to me.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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