DONAIRE FOLLOWING PACQUIAO BLUEPRINT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 13 Feb 2010
Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire makes no secret of the fact that he is following the blueprint laid out by “Fighter of the Decade” and pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao.
Donaire said that he wants to fulfill his goal of being a multi-division champion and “fighting the best out there” prompting renowned Los Angeles Times columnist and former sport editor Bill Dwyre to refer to Donaire as being Manny Pacquiao five years ago.
We sat in on the extremely interesting conversation between Dwyre and the articulate Donaire who showed remarkable composure and style.
In reference to Pacquiao’s career Donaire said “that’s the blueprint that I’m following and that’s the blueprint that inspires me, to be a multi-divisional champion, to see my potential and go with my talent.”
Donaire recalled that he grew up in the same area of General Santos City as Pacquiao “although we didn’t know each other. We went to the same school before I came to the United States.”
They both trained at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in 2000-2001 and that’s where Donaire said he got to know Pacquiao.
Donaire said Pacquiao was “the guy that inspired me to go beyond what I’m capable of and that there is no saying ‘no’ to what I can do unless I say so myself.”
Donaire said discipline was the key to his being able to fight at 112 pounds and now to make the super flyweight limit of 115 and credited his wife Rachael and the support of her family and his own family pointing out that “when they see a steak in front of me they take it away.”
Donaire admitted he has problems making the super flyweight limit and that if he is ever going to give Vic Darchinyan whom he knocked out in sensational fashion in the 5th round to win the IBF and IBO flyweight titles it would have to be this year.
But clearly both “The Filipino Flash” and his promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank have been turned off by the vicious and insulting comments of Darchinyan.
Donaire said “when you have somebody who disrespects the sport, disrespects the person that took you out in the first place it just turns you off. I would love to just cool off but he’s a turnoff for me.”
When renowned writer Bill Dwyer suggested it was a replay of the Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr , Donaire said “I think that’s what happened.”
Arum said “there is no reason for that.” He said Darchinyan’s promoter Gary Shaw should “sit down with me and work the deal out. What’s the purpose of going with the invectives. Not that he doesn’t want the fight, I don’t want the fight.”
Donaire said he is “looking ahead. I’m ready to fight at 122 right now if I want to. I can go up to 130. I have the height for it. Israel Vasquez called me out. When Bob (Arum) was talking about Juanma (Lopez) it made me smile because he brings that fire in me, I think he can bring out the potential in me and I want to fight guys like that. He is a nice guy, very respectful and at the same time he is a great fighter and he just burns that fire in me knowing that someday I may be able to fight a guy like that.”
Arum revealed that Rafael Marquez had signed with Top Rank and “if he beats Vasquez that would be perfect” to which Donaire responded by saying “see, I’m smiling. I’m ready for that. I love to fight.”
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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