DONAIRE SAYS THE DARCHINYAN FIGHT MUST HAPPEN
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 01 May 2010
WBA super flyweight interim champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire says a rematch with WBC/WBA champion Vic Darchinyan must happen because that?s the fight boxing fans want to see.
Donaire told insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that Darchinyan had claimed he (Donaire) was scared of him and pointed out that the best way to settle the issue would be to get it on, so he could repeat what he did to Darchinyan when he knocked him out in the 5th round of their IBF/IBO flyweight title on July 7, 2007 with the stoppage being named the ?Knockout of the Year.?
Donaire revealed that ?a few days ago we got a call that the fight (against Darchinyan) was good and both Cameron Dunkin (Donaire?s manager) and I agree that we really need to make this fight happen. It has to happen. Everybody wants to see it.?
Donaire added from a personal standpoint ?I want to shut his mouth and when I beat him it ends it all. I want to prove to the people that I knocked him out and that?s what I?m going to try to do again? even as he stressed he would wish to become the WBA 115 pound champion and remove the interim tag adding ?I really want to go for it.?
Promoter Gary Shaw told us earlier that he and Arum had come to an agreement on an August 21 date with the Home Depot in California as the possible site for the rematch and that he had forwarded the details to the Darchinyan camp and was waiting for a response from Darchinyan?s manager Elias Nassar.
Shaw later indicated that they were not happy with the amount offered by Top Rank for the international television rights particularly in the Philippines and that unless Bob Arum made a better offer they would look for another opponent.
Donaire told us he really doesn?t know what the real score is but claimed ?they have been telling me that it?s a go on August 21 and I have been training for it. I have been sparring with southpaws and trying to focus on left-handers.?
Among the southpaws Donaire has been sparring with is Dodie Boy Penalosa Jr , the outstanding Filipino amateur champion who recently turned pro and signed up with Dunkin and Donaire. Penalosa Jr is the son of former two division world champion Dodie Boy Penalosa who is also a member of Donaire?s training staff which includes brother Jonathan Penalosa.
Donaire said he is ?training hard so that I don?t have to worry about the weight? since he has had problems staying within the 115 pound limit and wants to move up to the bantamweight limit of 118.
He emphasized over and over again ?I want to make a statement out there that let?s make this fight happen. I want Darchinyan and I know that Darchinyan wants to fight me. So lets stop all the BS and lets make the fight happen.? Donaire indicated it would be unfair for him to be told that he is fighting a right hander and then to have the promoters turn around and say he is fighting a southpaw.
A skilled fighter with both speed and power, Donaire is also keen on reinforcing his standing in Ring Magazine?s pound-for-pound top ten and has been frustrated for some time now over the fact that he had wanted to face big name champions like WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel and WBO super flyweight champion Jorge Arce but hasn?t been able to get them into the ring.
Donaire recalled that he was supposed to fight Montiel at the Araneta Coliseum, the home of the famed ?Thrilla in Manila? between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier and said ?I wanted that fight for the longest time and we were training for three months then all of a sudden he (Montiel) pulled out.?
Donaire said that if a Montiel fight can be made then ?moving up to 118 would be the best option for that but at this time I want to get those belts at 115 and my priority is Darchinyan right now because there have been negotiations and its been a long time I wanted to fight again and I really want that (Darchinyan) fight.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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