DONAIRE EYEING MIJARES
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 20 Feb 2008
?The Filipino Flash? Nonito Donaire says he is hoping to get a shot at Japanese world champions, Daisuke Naito the WBC title holder and Takefumi Sakata who holds the WBA belt but if they refuse to fight him in a unification bout he would move up to super flyweight.
Donaire who was scheduled to return to the US yesterday, has to first overcome the challenge posed by Australia?s Hussein Hussein in Dubai on April 18 in the main event of a triple world title card promoted by the Third Force where former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala is the so-called point man.
On the eve of his departure Donaire told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that if the Japanese world champions refuse to face him even in Japan because they are afraid, he would move up to super flyweight.
Donaire has challenged WBC champion Naito (32-2-2, 20 KO?s) and Sakata (31-4-2, 15 KO?s, the WBA champion in a bid to unify the titles but there?s been no response from the Japanese. Meantime, Filipino southpaw Z ?The Dream? Gorres said he is ready to take on WBO champion Fernando Montiel.who last weekend scored a devastating fourth round KO over ageing former world flyweight champion Martin Castillo.
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Donaire made it clear he wouldn?t fight Gorres but would first go after the super flyweight title of WBA champion Alexander Munoz which he considers a comparatively easy fight. Munoz, nicknamed :?El Explosivo? has a record of 32-2 with 27 knockouts. In his last bout Munoz scored a unanimous twelve round decision over Japan?s Katsushige Kawashima in Yokohama last January 14.
Donaire conceded he wanted Munoz first because WBC champion Christian Mijares, the classy southpaw was an excellent boxer with a record of 34-3-3 with 14 knockouts which indicated he didn?t have a big punch. Mijares scored a split decision over Jose Navarro to retain his title last February 16 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas with the ridiculous 120-108 shutout scored by judge Doug Tucker the talk among ringside journalists.
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