Donaire nangakong pababagsakin ang kaibigang si Arce: walang kukurap

HOUSTON -- Magkaibigan sila sa labas ng bo­xing ring.

Ngunit ngayon ay sandaling isasantabi nina unified world super bantamweight champion Nonito ‘The Fi­li­­pino Flash’ Donaire, Jr. at Mexican challenger Jorge Arce ang kanilang pagkakaibigan.

Itataya ng 30-anyos na si Donaire ang kanyang ha­wak na World Boxing Organization super bantamweight crown laban sa 33-anyos na si Arce dito sa To­yo­ta Center sa Houston, Texas.

“I’m just going to do the best that I can like I always do,” sabi ni Donaire (30-1, 19 knockouts). “But at the same time, I hope the Philippines can be happy with my performance.”

Bago sagupain si Arce, tinalo muna ni Donaire ang mga Mexican fighters na sina Fernando Montiel at Tyson Marquez.

Tiniyak naman ni Arce (61-6-2, 46 KOs) na may mangyayari ding pagbagsak kagaya ng napanood sa ikaapat na banggaan nina Manny Pacquiao at Juan Manuel Marquez.

Pinatulog ng 39-anyos na si Marquez ang 33-anyos na si Pacquiao sa sixth round mula sa isang mabigat na right hand.

“What happened with Pacquiao and Marquez is going to happen again. But I’m not going to pressure my­self into doing anything,” ani Arce. “I know how hard I worked for this fight, I know that I’m ready, and that’s all I have to think about. Because of the respect and admiration I have for him, I’ve prepared like never before.”

Kung sinuman ang mananalo sa kanila, tiniyak ni Ar­ce na magkakasama pa rin sila ni Donaire matapos ang kanilang salpukan.

“We’re good friends, we go to fights and see each other, and we even go to dinner together with our wives,” sabi ni Arce kay Donaire, kasalukuyan ring kam­peon sa super bantamweight division ng Interna­tio­nal Boxing Federation.