Nonito Donaire: “Boxing fans want to see knockouts and I’m a fighter who can give them those big one-punch KO’s!”

Exclusive Interview

Nonito Donaire: “Boxing fans want to see knockouts and I’m a fighter who can give them those big one-punch KO’s!”

By Ace Freeman (29-Jun-2012)

Ace Freeman caught up with the ‘Filipino Flash’, rising pound-for-pound star Nonito Donaire Jr. who took the time out of his busy training camp to catch up with FightFan.com ahead of his July 7 unification bout against Jeffrey Mathebula set for HBO’s Boxing After Dark!

Photo credit: Chris Farina - Top Rank

FF: Nonito you are one of the most popular boxers in the world with regard to the lower weight classes that often don’t get the press they deserve. Can you talk a little bit about why boxing fans have become so drawn to you as a fighter from those lesser known weight classes and why your popularity continues to grow?

ND: I’m honest about who I am and where I come from. I’m very appreciative of everything I have. Watching me fight I think you see power, speed and excitement. I’m not afraid to fight anyone out there. I think that’s what the boxing fans appreciate and why they like to watch me fight. They want to see knockouts and I’m capable of those big one punch knockouts.

My Fil-Am (Filipino American) heritage does create pressure but that can be turned into a positive when it’s motivating. I need to train hard and work hard and hopefully inspire children and fellow Fil-Am’s who need motivation. They see me who was a kid who never had anything and was told I wouldn’t amount to anything and now I’m one of the top fighters in boxing. I want to show them that anything is possible if you work hard. There is pressure but I’ve turned it in to something that makes me move my legs and move my arms and train harder than ever!

Interview by Ace Freeman

FF: We’re here with WBO super bantamweight champion and rising pound for pound star ‘The Filipino Flash’ Nonito Donaire. Nonito thanks for taking the time to check in with us at FightFan.com… You have a big unification fight on tap for Saturday July 7 where you’ll be headlining on HBO after dark. Can you tell us a little bit about your opponent Jeffrey Mathebula and what kind of fight the fans can expect to see?

ND: It’s going to be very interesting because I’ve never faced an opponent who’s much taller than I am. Beating someone who’s this much taller than me is something I’ve never accomplished before so we’re really excited for this fight. It’s going to be great. We don’t know what to expect out there but we’ve worked really hard in camp and we’re ready for this fight.

FF: What is training camp like when you’re preparing for something new like this fighting a taller opponent?

ND: We tried to emulate everything in camp by getting guys who are 5’10 and 5’11 and some even bigger. We were able to get sparring partners who are tall like my opponent and it was a change in the whole camp. I have been in the gym more often than usual so I’m training harder this fight than any I have in my entire career.

FF: If we can maybe take a moment to reflect back, can you tell us a little bit about your last fight where you took on a very tough and experienced fighter in Wilfredo Vazquez Junior in your first fight at 122 pounds and how you felt fighting at this weight class for the first time?

ND: I fealt great. I felt that I was probably a bit smaller than your average 122-pounder in that fight but I feel it was a good way to grow into the division. I didn’t know what to expect at 122 but they’re definitely tougher. I wanted someone who is the caliber of a world champion to test myself in that division so Vazquez was a good choice. In preparing for the fight there were a lot of things that went on but I feel my power can hurt 122-pounders. Although I wasn’t able to hit him in the right spot (to get him out of there) I was able to drop him and hurt him. So this time we are going to maintain our composure and learn from the last fight to sharp shoot him a lot more.

FF: I know you walk around heavier than 122 pounds but what was the transition like to move up from 118 to fight at super bantamweight… was there any difference in your training camp such as working with weights or anything to that effect?

ND: For that particular fight I felt I was pretty small going in to it. I was walking around at 128 prior to moving up (where as now I walk around 130-132) so the whole camp I would go through a hard workout and I would be at or below fighting weight… so we had to do pushups and a little bit of weights. Not too much with the weights but it was a little bit different preparing for that fight doing stuff like that and in-taking a lot of protein shakes.

FF: You are well known for your punching power having scored dramatic one-punch knockouts over some great fighters like Vic Darchinyan and Fernando Montiel… can you talk a little bit about your power and if you feel it’s something you bring with you moving up in weight?

ND: I definitely think my power will still be there. In terms of the one-punch knockout it’s all about the proper placement and the proper balance. In my last fight I wasn’t able to do that because I was so focused on hitting him as hard as I could as many times as I could and that resulted in messing up my hand. But we learned a lot from that and the fight itself. The one-punch knockout tends to come when people aren’t expecting it and the velocity, speed and balance all play a big part. So I do feel it’s something I bring up in weight with me as long as the timing is there. With that I feel we can bring the one-punch KO to any weight class.

FF: You have a big following and high expectations on you with a lot of fans already dreaming up super fights for you as high as featherweight and above… how long do you see yourself at 122?

ND: There’s definitely a lot of competition in this division and I would like to stick around to get those big fights before I move up to 126. I would say in a year or so I could see myself moving up but I would stick around to fight the top guys here at 122.

FF: I don’t want to ask you to look past your July 7 bout but there are some big names at 122 right now. Are there any particular super bantamweights that perhaps you’re keeping an eye on in your peripheral vision at the moment?

ND: Well we’ve had some connections with guys like (Jorge) Arce and (Toshiaki) Nishioka having already talked with them about potential fights so I’d say they’re on a list of guys who I said I would fight and they said they would fight me.

But my main goal – and what would keep me in this division – is if I’m able to fight unification fights with the other champions and become undisputed so that would mean fights with (Guillermo) Rigondeaux for the WBA title and (Abner) Mares for the WBC belt. I want to fight those guys. My goal is to fight the best and hopefully they’re ready to do it.

FF: Those are some big names and some great potential fights. In specific, do you mind if I ask your opinion on Rigondeaux and Mares in specific? How do you rate them and their talent as fellow fighters?

ND: You know they’re world champions so to that effect they’re good fighters but I would fight either one of them because they have titles I want. Rigondeaux has his extensive amateur background and Mares has that Mexican fighting heart so they would be tough fights but that’s why I’m willing to step up because they belts I want.

FF: In particular to Rigondeaux, he’s someone who’s regarded by many pundits as a potential and rising pound-for-pound star because of his amateur pedigree. As you are someone who’s already regarded as a top pound-for-pound fighter in the sport does that praise for him give you some added incentive?

ND: To me the amateur background is just that. It’s an amateur background. There are a lot of guys who were amateur stars but they didn’t make that transition to becoming stars in the pro ranks. Only a few of them make it and to me Rigondeaux still has a lot to prove by needing to fight better opposition.

This is what I propose… I’d love to have a fight-off… a tournament between the top four guys at super bantamweight. That would be Nishioka, myself, Mares and Rigondeaux. I think that would be a great way to find out who’s truly the best in this weight division. I think there should be a fight-off between the four of us.

FF: Oh man… those are some good fights! Just out of curiosity… who would you pick to come on top of such a tournament?

ND: (Pauses) ME. (Laughs).

FF: Nonito while we have you here I really wanted to take the opportunity to ask you about the headlines you’ve made recently for going out of your way to voluntarily submit to year round performance enhancing drug testing. Can you tell us a little bit about how that came about and why you feel that was an important and positive thing to do?

ND: You know with all the negativity in boxing it seemed like a good thing to do. Even as far back as a few years ago I’ve wanted to show everyone… all the fans that they’re supporting someone who conducts himself in a honest way. I grew up and came from a background as a kid with nothing who was always told I’d never amount to anything and now look at who I am. I worked hard at that and it was all natural. I’m hoping we can inspire other fighters out there to do the same thing. Boxing can never be hurt by positive things and I think it’s a positive thing to go out there and present ourselves in an honest way. I feel it was a good thing to do.

FF: Absolutely, it’s a great thing so congratulations on that and I do hope it’s something we see more of in the sport. Nonito, you are one of the most popular boxers in the world with regard to the lower weight classes that often don’t get the press they deserve. Can you talk a little bit about why boxing fans have become so drawn to you as a fighter from those lesser known weight classes and why your popularity continues to grow?

FF: Do you mind if I ask you about the pressure that comes with being a Filipino-American fighter in this day and age in boxing? Obviously your Filipino heritage has been a big catalyst for your popularity but would you say it add pressure or is it a big motivator?

ND: My Fil-Am (Filipino American) heritage does create pressure but that can be turned into a positive when it’s motivating. I need to train hard and work hard and hopefully inspire children and fellow Fil-Am’s who need motivation. They see me who was a kid who never had anything and was told I wouldn’t amount to anything and now I’m one of the top fighters in boxing. I want to show them that anything is possible if you work hard. There is pressure but I’ve turned it in to something that makes me move my legs and move my arms and train harder than ever!

FF: Bringing that full circle it’s that popularity that has you set to headline HBO’s Boxing After Dark on July 7… getting back to the next fight with Jeffrey Mathebula what can the fans expect to see when they tune in to HBO on fight night?

ND: Definitely a much more experienced fighter. A lot more composure and a much more powerful fighter. You will see that the speed is still there but there will be a lot of power as well. I’m hoping that this guy comes to fight. It’s going to be an interesting fight but I also think it’s going to be an exciting one knowing the danger zone that I’m in fighting a guy who’s taller than I am. I think it’s going to be an exciting fight and I’m going to try to keep it exciting for the fans.

FF: That’s great to hear and we appreciate you doing this Nonito. Is there anything you’d like to say to the Fight Fans in Canada and around the world in closing?

ND: I just want to thank everyone for all the support and to all those who watch my fights. I’d like to thank everyone for being a fan and hope they can tune in July 7 on HBO. I want them to know I’m going to do everything I can to make it an exciting fight for them.

FF: Thanks Nonito, God bless and lots of luck.

ND: Thank you so much, man I appreciate it.

Promoted by Top Rank, NONITO “Filipino Flash” DONAIRE (28-1, 18 KOs), a native of General Santos City, Philippines, now living in the Bay Area of San Leandro, Calif., and KELLY “The Ghost” PAVLIK (39-2, 34 KOs), of Youngstown, OH, headline the July 7 edition of HBO Boxing After Dark®, beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT, live from The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. (delayed on the West Coast.) Donaire, the WBO junior featherweight champion will rumble with IBF champion JEFFREY “Marvelous Mongoose” MATHEBULA (26-3-2, 14 KOs), of Johannesburg, South Africa, in a world title unification fight to determine the division’s top dog. KELLY PAVLIK, who is riding a three-fight winning streak (the last two victories by knockout) since moving up to the super middleweight division, will battle WILL “Power” ROSINSKY (16-1, 9 KOs), from Queens, NY, to open the telecast.

Remaining tickets for The Home Depot Center’s Donaire / Pavlik World Championship fight card, priced at $100, $50 and $25, can be purchased online at AXS.com or by phone at 888-929-7849 as well as The Home Depot Center Box Office (open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Suites are available by calling 1-877-604-8777. For information of group discounts, please call 1-877-234-8425.

Video Courtesy of Top Rank

Exclusive Interview

Nonito Donaire: “Boxing fans want to see knockouts and I’m a fighter who can give them those big one-punch KO’s!”

By Ace Freeman (29-Jun-2012)

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