DONAIRE FACES A HUNGRY UNDEFEATED MAGDALENO
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 04 Oct 2016
Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire, Jr. will face his Mexican-American challenger Jessie Magdaleno who has the ambition of becoming a world champion someday. He hopes to see the realization of his dream during their WBO superbantamweight title fight at the Manny Pacquiao vs. Jessie Vargas undercard.
?As a kid, I?ve dreamt of this moment and the time is finally here,? Magdaleno said. ?On November 5th, I will be victorious with my hands raised up high and a belt around my waist.?
Both Magdaleno and Vargas are living in Las Vegas, Nevada and they will be fighting in their hometown at the Thomas and Mack Center.
?Both Jessies from Las Vegas beating both big fighters from the Philippines,? Magdaleno said. ?That would be something.? At present, Pacquiao and Donaire are the top two Filipino world rated fighters.
Undefeated Magdaleno (23-0-0, 17 KO's) looked up to Donaire (37-3-1, 24 KO's) as a great fighter, a star. But the 24-year-old southpaw sees his star shining during the world championship.
?I respect any fighter who steps into the ring and does his job,? said Magdaleno. ?Donaire was the star in the beginning when I first started. But now, it?s my time to be the star."
He even predicted the outcome of the bout and was confident of a stoppage. "Anything is possible in the ring. It?s boxing. You?ll never know what will happen. From what I?m studying and looking at, it won?t go past eight rounds.?
Magdaleno emphasized his hunger for a world title and his quest for bigger accomplishment at the top of the ring. ?I can relate to him. I?m just as old as he is. He?s accomplished his goals. I?m ready to accomplish mine,? he added. ?We feed off each other. He has a belt like the one I want, and he sees in me the hunger as I train and work hard.?
Magdaleno psyched himself by saying he took a lot of risks and declaring him as the stronger fighter. ?It?ll come down to who has the heart to keep going,? he said. ?I?m a big risk taker. Risks make champions. I?ve got to be the stronger, smarter fighter and once he feels my power, he?ll have an entirely different mentality."
Donaire acknowledged the desire of his foe to become a world champ. "Jessie is a great challenger, a mandatory title defense, and I know he?s hungry because he has been calling me out on social media,? said Donaire during the press conference in Los Angeles.
Manager Cameron Dunkin had a strong conviction on his champion fighter and believed Donaire will come out victorious. "Nonito is one of the greatest boxers of all time,? he confided. ?He?s fought the best and he?s beaten the best. He?s faced many tough challenges. This is a very tough challenge but this is what Nonito does.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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