DONAIRE FEELS STRONG, READY TO MOVE UP IN WEIGHT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 15 Mar 2013
WBO. Ring Magazine and WBC Diamond Belt super bantamweight champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire, the four division world champion feels terrific and plans to move up in weight should his promoter Top Rank fail to get him a fight with Abner Mares, the former WBC 122 pound champion, who recently relinquished his WBC 122 pound title and moved up in weight.
Mares (25-0-1, 13 KO?s) fights reigning WBA featherweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon (44-4, 35 KO?s) on May 4 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Donaire spoke to the Manila Standard after another hard day?s workout capped by ten rounds of sparring against three separate opponents at the Undisputed Gym in San Carlos City, California.
Donaire who trains three times a day said ?I feel strong and better than ever and I'll go up to featherweight."
Donaire is still eager to fight Mares but a possible opponent is Indonesia?s undefeated WBA featherweight champion Chris John (48-0-2, 22 KO?s) who defends his title against Japan?s Satoshi Hosono (23-2, 17 KO?s) on April 14 in Jakarta.
Donaire, named ?Fighter of the Year? by the prestigious Boxing Writers Association of America, Ring, ESPN, Yahoo Sports and many other organizations told us he trains with strength and conditioning coach Mike Bazzel at 4:00 a.m. then works out at 2:00 p.m. in the gym and at late night which is done to approximate fight time, adding ?I've been really focused and feel good.?
Donaire said he is ?putting on a lot of weight working with Bazzel and feel great after sparring ten rounds? especially against featherweight Victor Pasillas whom he described as very good former US amateur fighter with a pro record of 3-0 with 1 knockout.
Donaire said Pasillas is ?a good lefty very tough, very strong? and believes the 21 year old southpaw is even better than his April 13 opponent, WBA champion Guillermo Rigondeaux, the undefeated former Cuban Olympic gold medalist and reigning WBA champion with a record of 11-0 with 8 knockouts.
Pasillas who is from East Los Angeles won his pro debut beating Jose Garcia from King City, California in a featherweight bout by a 40-36 shutout over four rounds in an off-TV fight on the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez fourth showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas last December 8.
Pasillas was described as ?the busier and better fighter? and coasted to victory.
Donaire sounded extremely happy and said he was ?excited? over the anticipated July birth of his first child by wife Rachel Donaire, a former Taekwondo champion.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
WILDER AND CHISORA FACE OFF IN ICONIC TIMES SQUARE TO ANNOUNCE APRIL 4 HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN AT THE O2 LONDON
Tue, 03 Feb 2026World Boxing appoints Tom Dielen as new Secretary General
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Sullivan Management signs 19-1 power-punching Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Another Grandeza in MMA is coming
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Gracie meets Zubiri in PH
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 02 Feb 2026International Master Eric Labog Jr. rules FIDE rapid chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 02 Feb 202676ers star Paul George has been suspended for 25 NBA games by doping
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sun, 01 Feb 2026Fit To Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles
Sun, 01 Feb 2026Fit To Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles
Sun, 01 Feb 2026Trazo beats Jabagat in Talisay
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 01 Feb 2026Into fights Sanchez on Feb. 9 at Villa Kristen
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 01 Feb 2026Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson: Styles Make Fights Fitting Cliche
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 31 Jan 2026Bryan Flores Wins Majority Decision Over Starling Castillo in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
Sat, 31 Jan 2026KinetixSports Legacy Run on March 1
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 31 Jan 2026THE RING 6: OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON
Sat, 31 Jan 2026