Donaire not taking any chances vs foe

MANILA, Philippines - Nonito Donaire, Jr. returns to the gym Monday to start training for his Feb. 19 appointment with WBC and WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel, realizing he’s got to be at his best to beat the grizzled Mexican veteran whose fists once led an opponent to death.

Donaire, fresh from pulverizing former WBA bantamweight titlist Vladimir Sidorenko in Anaheim last Dec. 4, arrived here Tuesday with wife Rachel for a brief holiday, family get-togethers, TV appearances and business commitments. They leave tomorrow for Tokyo with Rachel’s parents Gerry and Becky Marcial on Japanese host Dr. Osamu Katoh’s invitation.

While in Tokyo, Donaire will visit the Teiken Gym. He was invited by Teiken owner Akihiko Honda to train at the facility and plans to begin Monday. Donaire will be at ringside for the Koki Kameda-Alexander Munoz bout for the vacant WBA bantamweight crown in Saitama on Dec. 26. After the fight, Donaire will head back to the US where his trainer Jonathan Penalosa is waiting. Donaire’s chief second Robert Garcia will join the training camp early next month.

“I won’t spar in Tokyo,” said Donaire. “I just want to limber up and get back in shape. My left hand swelled a bit after the Sidorenko fight but it’s fine now. I’ll do the bags, some shadow-boxing and drills. It’ll warm me up for the hard training in the US.”

Montiel, 31, is widely considered to be Donaire’s toughest opponent ever. He has logged 22 more fights, compiling a 44-2-2 record, with 34 KOs. His victims include Filipinos Ciso Morales (KO1), Z Gorres (W12) and Roy Doliguez (KO2). Gorres nearly beat Montiel and lost a close split decision while Doliguez floored the Mexican in the first round before folding up. In 2002, Montiel knocked out Panama’s Pedro Alcazar in a WBO superflyweight title fight and his opponent died two days later due to head injuries.

Last April, Montiel was behind on the three judges scorecards when he halted Japanese challenger Hozumi Hasegawa in the fourth round. Donaire said Hasegawa had control of the fight even as Montiel tried to seize the initiative from the onset but the Japanese got careless.

“I know I’m stronger than Montiel,” said Donaire. “His best shot is the left hook and he’s a deadly body puncher. I’ll be working out in the gym to toughen my middle. If he throws the jab, so much the better. I want him to jab. If he moves in, that’s fine with me, too. I’m starting strong. I’m comfortable at this weight (bantamweight). I know I can beat him.”

Montiel will be paid $400,000 for the fight and Donaire, $350,000 – his biggest paycheck. It will also be Donaire’s last fight with Top Rank unless they come to terms on an extension. Donaire inked a three-year contract with Top Rank, stipulating three fights annually, in 2007. But he saw action in only six fights, instead of nine. When the contract expired this year, Donaire signed a two-fight extension – to face Sidorenko and if he won, to meet Montiel.

“It would be an honor for Jun to fight in the undercard of a Manny Pacquiao bout,” said Donaire’s wife Rachel. “We talked to Manny about it. We also talked to Gov. (Chavit) Singson about it. But I think (Michael) Koncz is blocking it. We don’t know why. Three Filipinos were in the undercard of Manny’s last fight and Jun couldn’t get a break.”

Donaire said he went up to about 128 pounds when his fight against Sidorenko started despite scaling 118 at the weigh-in the day before. “I know my body well,” he said. “After the Montiel fight, I’m moving to superbantamweight (weight limit is 122 pounds) and challenge WBO champion Wilfredo Vazquez whom I think is slow. Vazquez is unbeaten but whom has he fought? He had a hard time against Ivan Hernandez in his last fight and Hernandez was once knocked out by Montiel.”

Down the road, Donaire said he’s got his sights on WBO featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez.

“Juanma was at ringside when Jun fought Sidorenko,” said Rachel. “I noticed he wouldn’t look at Jun when he was bashing Sidorenko because he probably didn’t want the TV cameras to catch his reaction.” Two Donaire fans at ringside were former NBA star Mitch Richmond and UFC middleweight fighter Mark Muñoz.

Donaire had no difficulty disposing of Sidorenko. “I busted his nose in the first round then I cut the side of his nose,” he said. “It was a bloody mess. But I had to do what I had to. I wanted to deliver a strong message to Montiel.”

Donaire said his wife prepared for a meet-and-greet with fans after the Sidorenkofight. “We were expecting about 50 fans but we ended up with over 300,” he added. “It was great treating the fans to food and drinks. We owe them for their support. My side of the family came over wearing red Filipino Flash shirts. Filipino, American and Mexican fans were cheering the entire fight.”

Donaire said he will fly his mother Imelda from San Francisco to join him in Tokyo for the Christmas holidays.