Hussein: Next Donaire foe?

Australian brawler Hussein Hussein could be IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire’s next challenger, it was learned from a reliable source the other day. And if the fighter of Lebanese descent is the chosen one, Donaire said he’ll double his efforts to score a win more impressive than his knockouts over Vic Darchinyan and Luis Maldonado.

No date or site has been discussed for the bout but a source said Donaire’s US promoter Gary Shaw has already sought clearance from the IBF if Hussein could be sanctioned as a challenger. 

Donaire, 25, won the IBF title via a fifth round knockout over Darchinyan, an Australian transplant like Hussein, last July. Early this month, he halted Maldonado in the eighth round of a bloody slugfest to mark his first title defense in Connecticut.

Shaw is expected in Manila on Jan. 21 to finalize details of the Feb. 2 superflyweight title eliminator between Darchinyan, whom he represents, and Z Gorres in Cebu. Donaire, who is spending the Christmas holidays here, said he hopes to iron out plans for his next defense with Shaw when he arrives.

“I saw Hussein’s two fights against (Jorge) Arce and they were brutal wars,” said Donaire. “Hussein’s a tough guy. He cut up Arce’s nose in their first fight like it was sliced by a knife. I anticipate a great fight against Hussein because he doesn’t back down. He comes to fight just like me. I don’t think he can match my speed and power.”

Donaire said he was only at 70 percent capacity in the Maldonado fight but promised to be 100 percent for his next outing.

“I didn’t know about the Maldonado fight until a little over a month before when I was in Cebu,” said Donaire. “I concentrated on bringing down my weight from 133 to 111 during my training.  That’s why my legs stiffened in the fight. Then, I had to deal with family issues. I cried every day for a week before the fight. It was my mom who consoled me. My faith in God carried me through.”

Donaire said he willed himself to beat Maldonado because “it was either him or me and I couldn’t lose.”

“I was told to take a flight on five hours notice from San Francisco to Connecticut less than a week before the fight,” he said. “That was how hectic my schedule was. I hurt both hands hitting Maldonado and I knew it was either he would break down or my hands would. Luckily, he broke down first.”

Hussein, 32, has compiled a 31-4 record, with 24 KOs , since turning pro in 1998. His brother Nedal knocked down Manny Pacquiao but lost on a technical knockout due to cuts in Sonny Padilla’s last fight as a referee in Antipolo in 2000. 

Hussein has never lost to a Filipino, victimizing Federico Catubay (KO3), Silvio Glinogo (KO2), Max Barro (KO8) and Dianever Orcales (W8). He has lost only to Arce twice, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam in a WBC title bout and Hiroyuki Hisataka on points in his latest outing in Osaka a week ago.

Donaire said he couldn’t care less who his next opponent is. 

“I’m a fighter,” he continued. “I’ll fight whomever my manager (Cameron Dunkin) and promoter (Shaw) put in front of me. I don’t choose my opponents. My preference is to unify the flyweight title against either of the two Japanese champions. If I have to fight in Japan to do it, I will. It will be an honor for the Philippines to have a unified champion.”