DONAIRE WANTS TO GIVE FANS A PERFORMANCE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 19 Oct 2011
New York City -- WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" wants to give fans a "performance" when he steps into the ring at famed Madison Square Garden here on Saturday in the first defense of his title against undefeated Argentine two-division champion Omar Andres Narvaez.
A smiling, extremely confident Donaire told a large gathering of media people including Dyan Castillejo of ABS-CBN who will cover the fights along with this reporter that "I am always thankful to my fans for being there to support and pray for me and the least that I can do is perform."
Donaire said "there is no doubt in my mind that I am ready and I'm going to try to perform the best possible way but it takes two to tango so we need the participation from (Omar Andres) Narvaez but I think he's willing because he represents he is a legend of Argentina"
However, Donaire added, "He is taking on somebody who is in a different world right now and that's what we are going to try to give the fans - the best of what he has and the best of what I have."
He stressed that it was "of great importance" to have his wife Rachael and his family and his whole fan believe which was "all a blessing to me and that's why I fight the way I fight. That's why I train the way I train because I am thankful for every time they take pictures of me, that I give them autographs. I'm blessed with the life that I have because I never thought I will be here."
Donaire said "I box because I enjoy the sport and at the end of it all I hope I can inspire other kids out there the way that I was inspired to do the best that I can."
In his workout at the Kingsway Gym Donaire went through his usual routine and did the punch-mitts with former WBC light welterweight champion Morris East who told us later "No problems. Nonito is in great shape. He's ready."
There were times Donaire switched to a southpaw stance indicating he could switch from his normal orthodox stance if he had to since Narvaez is a southpaw,
While he admitted there are talks of possible future opponents at the super bantamweight division since he has indicated the fight against Narvaez will be his last at 118 pounds, Donaire maintained "at this point in time its just about focusing more on defeating my opponent (Narvaez), on how hard we worked and how ready we are for this fight."
Donaire confessed he didn't know too much about Narvaez who we learned has been working out twice a day in an effort to get into the best shape of his life for the step up in weight to 118 pounds,
Donaire noted that Narvaez "has been a world champion since even before I've been a world champion. He's had a lot of amateur history, he's been really good. He is still undefeated and that's the biggest challenge that we have in giving him his first defeat."
He said trainer Robert Garcia, a former world champion, was working on dissecting his style but with me is what he (Narvaez) presents in front of me and what advantage I can take and go from there and set up a plan and a trap for him because that is the kind of fighter I am. I am a strategist in that ring."
Donaire added, "whatever he brings in that first round if we can end it as early as the first round or it goes twelve rounds we are always ready for anything."
Asked whether he needs to make a statement because its his first fight on the East Coast and the original "Mecca" of boxing, Madison Square Garden where the greats such as Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson and others fought, Donaire replied, "It's more about beating Narvaez and we want to look spectacular because when I started to be where I'm at its because I accepted that boxing, as much its a sport, as much as it's an art for me, it's also entertainment. You've got to entertain the people and that's one thing I have in my head, I got to look spectacular. I did it with (Wladimir) Sidorenko, I did it with (Fernando) Montiel and I just want to keep that streak going so they'll know more about Nonito Donaire."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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