MANILA, Philippines - Walang nakikitang problema sa kanyang kondisyon si Nonito ‘The Filipino Flash’ Donaire para sa pag-akyat sa super bantamweight division (122 pounds).
At para ihanda si Donaire sa paglaban sa super bantamweight class, kumuha si Mexican trainer Robert Garcia ng tatlong lightweight fighters bilang sparring partners ng tubong Talibon, Bohol.
“So far I am pretty tough, but I try not to get hit of course,” ani Donaire sa kanyang pagsagupa sa kanyang mga lightweight sparmates:” The guys were definitely bigger than I expected in the beginning, but my body got accustomed to the size and the width of the bigger guys. So, when I sparred with them I was having difficulties in the beginning, but now I kind of got used to that type of body in front of me. So it’s been great.”
Nakatakdang labanan ni Donaire si Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr. para sa bakanteng WBO super bantamweight title sa Pebrero 4 sa Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas.
Nagdadala si Donaire ng 27-1-0 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 18 KOs) slate, samantalang may 21-1-1 (18 KOs) card si Vazquez.
Ito ang unang pagkakataon na lalaban si Donaire, dinala ang kanyang training camp sa Las Vegas, Nevada, sa super bantamweight division matapos magkampeon sa IBF at IBO flyweight class at WBO bantamweight category.
“Sometimes I come out here at two o’clock in the morning,” sabi ni Donaire. ”Because my body is awake. It’s great. It’s the first time I train out here. The only difference my guys are not around.”
Si Vazquez, nanggaling sa una niyang kabiguan laban kay Mexican Jorge Arce noong nakaraang taon, ay tumimbang ng 132.6 pounds ilang araw bago ang kanilang salpukan ni Donaire sa 122 pound-limit.