Pinakamabigat na laban ni Donaire si Nishioka

MANILA, Philippines - Ito ang unang pagkaka­taon na may makakasagu­pa si unified world super bantamweight champion Nonito ‘The Filipino Flash’ Donaire, Jr. na isang boksingerong nakapagpapa­bagsak sa pamamagitan ng isang suntok.

At ang tinutukoy ni Do­naire ay si Japanese chal­­aenger Toshiaki ‘Speed King’ Nishioka.

“He’s strong. He has a good straight power punch and it’s really clear he can knock people out with that straight punch,” ani Donaire kay Nishioka. “I’ve ne­ver fought a guy who can knock guys out with just one punch.”

Tumimbang ang 29-an­yos na si Donaire ng 121.6 pounds, habang may bigat na 121.8 pounds ang 36-anyos na si Nishioka para sa kanilang salpukan ngayon sa Home Depot Center sa California, USA.

Ipagtatanggol ni Do­naire, nagdadala ng 29-2-0 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 18 KOs kum­para sa 39-4-3 (23 KOs) ni Nishioka, ang kanyang mga hawak na WBO at IBF super bantamweight titles.

Paglalabanan din nina Donaire at Nishioka ang WBC Diamond super bantamweight crown at ang Ring Magazine belt.

“He either was going to retire or fight me, so that’s why I know we can’t take anything away from him,” ani Donaire sa Japanese superstar. “He’s a veteran. He knows how to fight. He knows how to win. When he has his radar targeted on someone, he means business. So for me, I got to be on my A-game.”

Enero pa lamang ay pi­naghandaan na ni Ni­shioka, ang WBC Emeritus super bantamweight king, ang kanilang upakan ni Donaire.

“There were a lot of good fighters out there, but no matter who I fought, Donaire always came up,” wika ni Nishioka. “He had the highest recognition, so it’s faster if I just go directly to the top.”

Hindi pa natatalo si Ni­shioka sa loob ng walong taon at sumasakay sa isang 16-fight winning streak sa kasalukuyan.