DONAIRE STRUGGLING TO MAKE 115
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 07 Jul 2010
It's obvious that Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire is struggling to make the 115 pound super flyweight limit for his title defense against power-punching Hernan ?Tyson? Marquez with Donaire?s WBA Interim title on the line.
When we spoke to Donaire around 12 noon (Puerto Rico time) Tuesday he sounded tired if not unhappy over the fact that he hasn?t been able to get a decent fight that would do him justice at either bantamweight or super bantamweight since he is around 5?7? and has a frame that cannot possibly linger at 115 pounds.
Donaire told us he hadn?t checked his weight since he arrived in Puerto Rico and that the last he checked he was around 6-8 pounds over the 115 limit with just four days to go before the fight.
The former IBF/IBO flyweight champion who won the title with a sensational 5th round knockout of Vic Darchinyan on July 7, 2007 has been eager to fight big names such as WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel, the Mexican?s mandatory challenger Eric Morel or even Jorge Arce who is moving up to bantamweight.
But both Montiel and Morel have so far rejected his offer to fight them although Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has reportedly promised Donaire a crack at Montiel, provided the Mexican beats Morel in their July 17 title fight in Mexico.
Meantime, well known promoter Fernando Beltran told us some time ago that Donaire better not take Marquez lightly because he can punch and blamed Marquez's surprising loss to Filipino Richie Mepranum on points last March to lack of focus and preparation and the fact that he had to come down in weight from a super flyweight to fight as a flyweight and won?t have that problem in the Donaire fight.
Marquez who has a record of 23-1 with 15 knockouts was quoted as saying he understands the position he is in because he is ?not the favorite and so I?m under a lot of pressure? since he signed the contract to fight Donaire. However, Marquez said that in return ?this has given me great motivation and belief in myself and I wouldn?t be here (in Puerto Rico) if I didn?t think I could win.?
Marquez said the loss to Mepranum who out-boxed him to score a lopsided points decision taught him a ?a great lesson? and that he has ?prepared better for this fight. I?ll have no weight problems and we?ll demonstrate that we have what it takes to be crowned world champion.?
The Top Rank continuing ?Pinoy Power/Latin Fury? series will be held at the Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot in Hato Rey and will be telecast by the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN over its pre-eminent Channel 2 beginning at 10:00 a.m. with a replay over Studio 23 at 7:00 p.m.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Nagoya Nightmare: Naoya Inoue Notches One-Sided Decision over Murodjon Akhmadaliev
Mon, 15 Sep 2025Inoue’s Philippine Connection: Which Pinoy Super Bantamweight Could Challenge “The Monster?”
By Carlos Costa, Mon, 15 Sep 2025Yoseline Perez Advances to the Finals at the World Boxing Championships Perez Set to Face Chinese Taipei’s Hsiao-Wen Huang for 54-Kilogram World Title
Mon, 15 Sep 2025Canelo Gets Outboxed, Loses Undisputed Title to Crawford
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 14 Sep 2025A Masterpiece of Boxing: Terence Crawford Dethrones Canelo Alvarez in Historic Showdown
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Sep 2025LEWIS CROCKER IS CROWNED THE NEW IBF WORLD WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION
Sun, 14 Sep 2025Battle of Undefeated: Callum Walsh Vanquishes Fernando Vargas Jr.
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Undercard Inferno: Mbilli and Martinez Deliver a Super Middleweight War Ending in a Thrilling Draw
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Crawford to defy odds?
By Joaquin Henson, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Clash of Titans: The Final Predictions for Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Weigh-In Results: Naoya Inoue vs. Murodjon Akhmadaliev
Sun, 14 Sep 2025Inoue and Akhmadaliev Make Weight for Sunday's Battle, Watch it LIVE on Facebook!
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 14 Sep 2025IIEE North Cotabato and Metro Central are the Golden Champion on 3x3 Basketball and 3x3 Chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 14 Sep 2025Sydney Sy Tancontian is Female Awardee of Sports Hero of the Year
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 13 Sep 2025Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford: Size Matters
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 13 Sep 2025