Nonito Donaire gears up for toughest career fight against Carl Frampton (Video)
By Leo Reyes PhilBoxing.com Mon, 16 Apr 2018
Less than a week before his title fight against Carl ?The Jackal? Frampton (24-1-0,14 KOs), of Northern Ireland, Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire(38-4-0, 24 Kos) is confident he will emerge victorious despite odds makers tagging him a 6-1 underdog barely five days before they clash on April 21 at the SSE Arena, Belfast in Northern Ireland.
?I?m confident of beating Frampton. I?ve trained hard for this fight and I?m in the best shape of my life. I?ve got a good feeling about this. I figure my chances are 70 percent to win.? Donaire told Philstar.com.
Both Donaire and Frampton are coming off one win each after a losing their individual world titles.
Donaire lost his WBO super bantamweight title to Jessie Magdaleno on Nov. 5, 2017 via a unanimous decision at the Thomas & Mack Center in Paradise, Nevada. He later fought Ruben Garcia Hernandez to win a unanimous decision on Sept. 3, 2017 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Frampton likewise lost his WBA super featherweight title to Leo Santa Cruz via a majority decision at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on January 28, 2017. On Nov. 18, 2017, Frampton defeated Horacio Garcia of Mexico via a unanimous decision at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
For Frampton, it is a make or break fight of his career.
?I suppose people are saying it's make or break because of the stage of my career that I?m at. Nonito Donaire, I think, would feel in the same boat. It?s not good to lose at any stage of your career, but to lose this fight will not be good for potential fights down the line,? Frampton said on telegraph co.uk.
While Donaire is confident of another victory to propel his career with more lucrative fights down the road, Frampton enjoys a hometown crowd and possibly a hometown decision if the fight is close and competitive.
Fampton is aiming to face WBO champ Oscar Valdez, who is quite popular in the division and a known crowd favorite. It would be Frampton?s most lucrative fight if he defeats Donaire in his hometown of Northern Ireland.
Both fighters are almost evenly matched. The 35-year-old Donaire stands 5?6? with a reach of 68 inches while Frampton, who is four years younger at 31, stands 5?5? with a reach of 62 inches.
Donaire has a negligible advantage in height at 1.0? but he has a 6.0? advantage in reach which he can use to control his distance to avoid being hit at close range.
Frampton is a power puncher and is relatively accurate with his targets. But Donaire may capitalize on his reach advantage to maintain a safe distance.
Donaire needs to improve on his patented speed and power in the days leading up to the weekend fight. For sure the coaching staff will find a way to enhance Donaire?s hand and foot speed which is proven to have worked to his advantage in many of his victories.
Another point of concentration is Donaire?s deadly left hand which is as powerful as his right. Donaire has the ability to switch from being an orthodox fighter to being a southpaw.
Donaire?s speed, power and his deadly left hand punch could dispel odds makers? 6-1 underdog tag at this time as training previews can change in the days leading up to the fight.
