Donaire welcomes all comers next year

MANILA, Philippines - WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. said yesterday he’ll be ready to take on all comers as early as January as he vowed to stay busy with three or four fights next year.

Quietly slipping into town early last Saturday morning, Donaire said he’s looking forward to battling any of the world superbantamweight champions willing to step up and take him on. He named WBC 122-pound titlist Toshiaki Nishioka as a priority in his target list.

“I think Nishioka is the best 122-pounder out there right now,” said Donaire. “He’s a hard hitter. I’m sure when we fight, it won’t go the distance. One of us is going down. But I’ll fight any of the other champions (WBO’s Jorge Arce, WBA’s Rico Ramos, IBF’s Takalani Ndlovu), too. I could fight in January or February. I’d love to fight Arce but I’m not sure if he’s willing to fight me. He might just want to be a celebrity champion. I don’t really care whom I fight for as long as a world title is on the line. Remember (WBA bantamweight champion Anselmo) Moreno? We wanted to make that fight happen but he asked for too much money. In the end, I don’t think he really wanted to fight me. I don’t mind fighting anywhere, in Manila, in Tokyo, in Las Vegas. I’m going up in weight and I’ll make sure I’m ready for anyone, anywhere, anytime. I’m a warrior. I always want to be in an exciting fight where my opponent brings out the best in me.”

Donaire, 28, said his eight-month layoff before his recent fight against Omar Narvaez led to conditioning problems. “I stayed away from the gym too long and my weight went up to 145,” he said. “Still, I made the weight (118 pounds) for Narvaez. I know my body. When I say I’ll make weight, I’ll end up under or right on the money. The day before the weigh-in, I did just 30 minutes in the fitness room and Narvaez, two hours. I was .2 off 118 in my hotel room just minutes before the weigh-in so I was sure I’d check in at 118. But I guess with the different surface in the weigh-in room, I was surprised to go under 117. Narvaez must’ve been at 119. Anyway, I was about 128 to 130 for the fight and so was Narvaez. By the eighth round, my left leg started to cramp. When you’re out of the gym a long time, your old injuries come back. I hurt my left leg in the (Tyson) Marquez fight. That’s why in the last round, my left leg gave way when I threw a punch. I was off-balance. That won’t happen again.”

Donaire is set to walk his wife Rachel down the aisle in a church wedding in Alabang on Nov. 11. They were married in civil rites in California three years ago. Over 30 close relatives and friends are flying in from the US starting today to attend the ceremony and celebrate his birthday on Nov. 16. The celebration will move to Bohol and Boracay. On Nov. 24, the Donaires go back to the US and he begins training the next Monday.

“I want to keep my weight at 134 to 135 before I return to the gym,” he said. “I’m really excited to move up to superbantamweight. I know the obstacles ahead of me. My opponents will be tough and that’s why I want to get back to training right away.”

Nishioka, 35, outpointed Juan Manuel Marquez’ brother Rafael in the sixth defense of his WBC title in Las Vegas last month. The Japanese has ruled since 2009 and one of the challengers he repulsed was Filipino Balweg Bangoyan who fell in five. His record is 39-4-3, with 24 KOs.       

Ramos, 24, is the WBA champion with a 20-0 record, including 11 KOs. He stakes his crown against Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba on Dec. 31. Arce, 32, holds the WBO title and his record is 58-6-2, with 45 KOs. Ndlovu, 33, is the IBF titleholder with a 33-6 record, including 18 KOs. Any of the four world champions wouldn’t fight Donaire like Narvaez – they’ll engage and make it a war.