DONAIRE EXPECTS MATHEBULA TO STAND AND FIGHT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 28 Jun 2012
Mathebula.
WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire expects IBF champion Jeffrey ?Mongoose? Mathebula of South Africa to stand and fight when they clash in a unification title bout at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California on July 8, Manila Time.
Fight tapes of Mathebula who won the IBF title by a twelve round split decision in a rematch with Takalani Ndlovu last March 24 shows he is unlike two-division champion Omar Andres Narvaez who backpedaled all night against Donaire at New York?s famed Madison Square Garden and lost by a shutout that had fans booing in the middle rounds.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said ?the video we?ve seen of Mathebula shows he is a fighter that engages. He comes to fight.?
Filipino fight fans will get a chance to watch the IBF champion in his title winning fight against Takalani Ndlovu on Viva Sports ?The Main Event? on Sunday, July 1 at 11:00 a.m. on AKTV IBC 13 courtesy of Mathebula?s well-known promoter Branco Milenkovic.
Arum feels that Mathebula is the kind of fighter who will bring out the best in pound for pound No. 4 ranked Donaire who will be facing a taller opponent for the first time as the IBF champion stands 5?10? to Donaire who is 5?7?.
Mathebula has said he plans to use his height and reach advantage in the fight which has apparently made Donaire?s manager Cameron Dunkin very nervous.
However, Donaire?s trainer and former world champion Robert Garcia told the Manila Standard he is not worried because Donaire prefers to fight taller opponents.
Donaire himself told us he has never trained harder for a fight because Mathebula is somewhat of an unknown quantity and he doesn?t know what to expect.
Undefeated Filipino Mercito ?No Mercy? Gesta, his father Anecito and co-manager and trainer Vince Parra will be at ringside to watch the fight and support Donaire and so will be a large number of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans living in California.
Arum said that WBC super champion Toshiaki Nishioka who has been mentioned as a possible future opponent for Donaire will also be at ringside to check out Donaire.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Donaire in historic bid
By Joaquin Henson, Thu, 06 Nov 2025BROADCAST DETAILS ANNOUNCED FOR CMH2: BADOU JACK VS. NOEL MIKAELIAN
Thu, 06 Nov 2025Top prospect Marco Romero A victim of dramatic changes in Today’s professional boxing world
Thu, 06 Nov 2025Closing of registration on Nov. 15 for SDSPPO TWG-PAGPTD Run in Tandag
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 06 Nov 2025Rafael Espinoza-Arnold Khegai & Tenshin Nasukawa-Takuma Inoue Blockbuster Cards to Stream LIVE on Top Rank Classics FAST Channel
Thu, 06 Nov 2025JUSTIN LACEY-PIERCE OUTLASTS COURTNEY PENNINGTON IN DETROIT
Wed, 05 Nov 2025The José Sulaimán Boxers’ Fund continues supporting fighters worldwide
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 05 Nov 2025NBA Daily: Sans Injured Young, Hawks Still Dominate Magic 127-112
By Reylan Loberternos, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Kamatyas FIDE Rapid chess on Nov 8
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 05 Nov 2025WBC lifts the suspension imposed on Ryan Garcia
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Siargao pug bags silver in Batang Pinoy
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Marcial-Colmenares Middleweight Bout Steals Show at Thrilla in Manila 50th Year (Part 2 of 2)
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 05 Nov 2025Brown vs. Seldin for the WBA Super Lightweight Interim World Title
Wed, 05 Nov 2025FRANCIS LAFRENIÈRE MAKES COMEBACK NOV 29
Wed, 05 Nov 2025OLYMPIC MEDALIST YUBERJEN MARTINEZ INKS WITH ALL STAR BOXING
Wed, 05 Nov 2025