Donaire hopes to silence critics
NONITO Donaire Jr. looks to become the best super bantamweight boxer in the world with a win over World Boxing Council Emeritus champion Toshiaki Nishioka this Sunday morning (PH time) at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
“It is an unbelievable fight. Nishioka has been the best 122-pounder for a long time and he is a hell of a fighter! Now, Donaire looks like he wants to take his place. It should be a good fight,” Top Rank head Bob Arum told Fight News.
Nishioka is rated as the No. 1 bantamweight in The Ring Magazine’s ratings, while Donaire Jr., who holds both the division’s World Boxing Organization (WBO) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) titles, is rated third behind World Boxing Association (WBA) super bantamweight Guillermo Rigondeaux.
Some have criticized that Donaire Jr. hasn’t been as impressive as he once was with his last three fights going the distance. However, the 29-year-old Filipino-American is looking to silence his critics.
“Training is great. We have trained so hard that we are very confident and ready for him. He is going to have power and everything he trained for but we have the speed advantage. You will see a smart and sharp Nonito Donaire,” said Donaire Jr.
Donaire Jr. and Nishioka are both riding impressive winning streaks.
Donaire Jr. hasn’t lost since his second-career fight against Rosendo Sanchez in 2001. He has won 27 straight. Nishioka, on the other hand, has 16 straight victories but he is on layoff for over a year.
However, despite that and the fact that Donaire Jr. is one of the best boxers in the world, ranked fifth in the mythical pound-for-pound ratings, Nishioka is confident of his chances.
“This training camp has been the greatest camp I have had and I am looking for his left hook. We will put together a game plan for the fight depending on his style. He is the pound for pound number four on the list and if I beat him that brings me to that position. I am ready to fight,” said the 36-year-old Japanese superstar.