DONAIRE HOPES TO FIGHT IN APRIL
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 29 Dec 2007
Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire is hoping to have a title defense in April and wishes that it could be a unification bout against Japan?s WBC champion Daisuke Naito.
Donaire said his desire has always been to unify the titles after winning the IBF./IBO crowns with a sensational fifth round knockout of Vic Darchinyan last July 7. ?That will be really nice? was Donaire?s comment on a possible battle with Naito and said he was willing to fight him even in Japan.
Talks of a possible title defense against Australia?s Hussein Hussein have obviously been scuttled after Hussein took what Sports Nut described as ?a savage hit? when he lost a unanimous ten round decision to unheralded Japanese Hiroyuki Hisataka who was coming off three successive defeats.
Hussein had prepared for the Hisataka fight by sparring with former IBF/IBO champion Vic Darchinyan who in turn is preparing for a February 2 IBF title eliminator against Z ?The Dream? Gorres in Cebu City.
Hussein?s brother and trainer claimed the fight was much closer than the scores of the judges indicated and said Hussein Hussein deserved a draw. The scores in favor of Hisataka were 97-95/97-92 and 98-92.
Donaire who currently weighs around 129 pounds said he has begun training by running in the mornings to get in shape. He said ?so far, so good? and he plans ?harder workouts beginning January.?
Donaire said that as of now he hasn?t spoken to his manager Cameron Dunkin or promoter Gary Shaw about his next fight although Shaw informed Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that he is scheduled to arrive in Manila on January 21 as guest of Solar Sports which telecast the title fights of Donaire vs Darchinyan and the first defense of the 25 year old Filipino against tough Mexican Luis Maldonado over whom he scored an eighth round TKO.
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