WISH GRANTED FOR NONITO DONAIRE & TOSHIAKI NISHIOKA
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 12 Oct 2012
Los Angeles, CA ? Nonito Donaire Jr. wanted this fight. Toshiaki Nishioka wanted this fight.
On Saturday, two of the best super bantamweights of the world will get their wish as they square off against each other in the squared ring.
Donaire and Nishioka made their sentiments known to the boxing media in a roundtable discussion held Thursday afternoon, two days before their big fight at the Home Depot Center in Carson.
Donaire, the current IBF and WBO champ is aware that the Japanese champ has his eyes set on him for a long time, like a hunter whose eyes are centered on a target.
?I?ve read in some articles that he either was going to retire or fight me. And that is why we can?t take anything away from him because as much as he was inactive, this is a guy who is a veteran. He knows how to fight, he knows how to win,? Donaire expressed yesterday.
?When he has his radar targeted on someone, it's business. So for me, I got to be on my A game,? added the Filipino champion.
The unified 122 pound champ admitted that he is honored to have an outstanding fighter like Nishioka want him so bad. Nishioka was at ringside to observe Donaire when he won his second belt of the division last July in the same arena against Jeffrey Mathebula of South Africa.
?He is a very respectable kind of guy and a great fighter. We have mutual respect for each other; for our abilities and we both kind of felt that we are the best in this division. We wanted to prove which one is better that is why this fight is made,? Donaire stated.
The 36 year old Nishioka has been of possession of the WBC Super Bantam crown for four years and has successfully defended it for that duration. He was relieved of that belt by the WBC last March and the belt was put up in a fight between Abner Mares and Erik Morel last April 21st.
Also, Nishioka has not lost a fight in the last eight years, tasting his last defeat via a 12 round unanimous victory in enemy territory. The Tokyo based boxer has long proven that he is the king of the 122 pound class with his reign.
?I want to show everybody that I am the best in this weight class and that?s what I?ll show,? Nishioka told Philboxing.com?s Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Nishioka reiterated his ardent wish to slug it out with Donaire, who invaded the 122 pound class this year with twin wins over Mathebula in July and Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. last February.
?I wanted this fight against Donaire and that is why I waited,? stated Nishioka.
It is a reign that Donaire wanted to end, even if he is the newest guy in the block. But one that will present challenges this Saturday night.
?He has the experience. He has the expertise in terms of when it gets tough. His other advantage is that he is a lot bigger in this weight class that I am," said Donaire.
?This is a weight class that I am still getting my foot settled in. I fought the guys and got the belts but in terms of being the bigger guy, he is the bigger guy in this fight,? he explained.
The Filipino fighter stressed that Nishioka is the top fighter in the division and one that has proven himself as a true champion.
?He is number 1 in the division. What else can you ask for? That is where I want to be, that is what I want and that is the guy that I acknowledge,? explained Donaire.
?The other guys I don?t acknowledge is because of the fact that they have to prove themselves to me. This guy has proven himself for years. He has knocked world champions out. He is the guy I wanted to fight,? he added.
And it does not matter to Nonito Donaire if Toshiaki Nishioka does not have the regular WBC belt anymore. He to him is the true champ of this division and he wanted to wrestle that throne away from him.
Toshiaki Nishioka knows that his stellar career will even get brighter if and when he beats Donaire this Saturday night, oceans away from his home turf.
?I don?t want to be a world champion of Japan. I want to be the world champion internationally. That is why I am fighting Donaire.?
Yes, your wishes are about to come true guys, in less than 48 hours it will.
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com for any reactions to this piece.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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