MANILA, Philippines - Plano ni WBA featherweight champion Nonito DoÂnaire, Jr. na linisin ang kompetisyon sa 126-pound class matapos angkinin ang WBA crown.
Dumating sa bansa ang 31-anyos na si Donaire noong Marso para paghandaan ang kanilang laban ni WBA featherweight titlist Simpiwe Vetyeka ng South Africa noong Mayo 31 sa Macau.
Isang araw matapos manalo ay bumalik ang pamilya ni Donaire sa Manila at nagbakasyon sa Boracay.
Ayon kay Donaire, babalik siya sa Manila sa Agosto upang mag-ensayo para sa kanyang susunod na laban sa Setyembre alinman sa Macau o US.
“My next fight was originally scheduled in September but I’ll need a little more time for my cut to heal,†sabi ni Donaire, may 11 tahi sa ibabaw ng kanyang kaliwang mata matapos ang laban kay Vetyeka.
“I don’t really know who my next opponent is. It’s Top Rank that decides and Bob (Arum) has the final say. I’m ready to fight anyone they put me up against. I could fight any of the other world featherweight champions like the WBC’s Jhonny Gonzalez but he’s promoted by Golden Boy or the WBA’s Nicholas Walters or the IBF’s Evgeny Gradovich. Or I could do a rematch against Vetyeka,†dagdag nito.
Inamin ni Donaire na nahilo siya matapos maputukan sa ibabaw ng kanyang kaliwang mata sa first round.
Nag-alala rin siya na baka itigil ang laban at mapapaÂnatili ni Vetyeka ang korona via technical knockout kung ikukunsidera ng referee na isang legal blow ang sugat niya sa mata.
“That’s when I tried to end it right away,†ani Donaire. “I gave it all I had. I knew that the longer the fight took, the more I would be at a disadvantage because of the cut. I went after him on instinct.â€
Muling makakasama ni Donaire ang kanyang amang si Nonito, Sr. para paghandaan ang kanyang susunod na laban.
“I’ll stay around in the featherweight division for a while,†ani Donaire. “I feel good at 126. There are other world featherweight champions out there to fight. I’m not in a hurry. My power is intact and I’m moving well. I’ll know when the time comes to move up.â€