MANILA, Philippines - Expecting to face tougher opposition when he moves up to the superbantamweight division, Nonito Donaire Jr. said the other day the warriors looming in the horizon guarantee no more boring fights like his recent shutout over an uncooperative Omar Narvaez.
Donaire admitted he himself was bored in winning every round easily with Narvaez refusing to engage in retaining his WBC/WBO bantamweight titles in Las Vegas.
“I was frustrated in a sense,” said Donaire. “I expected a lot from Narvaez but he just didn’t care about winning. I’m disappointed for the New York fans. I’d never fought anyone like Narvaez before. I tried switch-hitting because fighting a southpaw, I was worried about getting tripped or butted. I wanted a knockout and I lost my patience a little bit. He wouldn’t open up. I couldn’t tee off because he kept moving. I’d throw a combination and before I could land the big one, he’d be out of range. He wasn’t stationary. He was a slick left-hander.”
Donaire said he even brought down his guard deliberately to invite the Argentinian to let his hands go. “Narvaez never hurt me,” he continued. “In the third round, he threw a right that looked like it landed hard because my head moved but what I actually did was to roll with the punch. In the (Fernando) Montiel fight, I did that, too. I got Montiel to throw so I could counter. Because Narvaez wouldn’t engage and stand still, I think I connected only with 60 percent of my power. On a scale of 1 to 10, I’d rate his defense a 9 but overall, he’d be a 3 because you don’t win a fight with pure defense.”
As for his own performance, Donaire said he rated himself a 7. “I felt I could’ve done more but in the eighth round, my left leg cramped,” he said. “My biggest mistake was staying out of the gym too long (laying off eight months to settle a contract dispute before fighting Narvaez). I had a lot of missed punches. I’m usually very precise with my counters. But this time, I couldn’t counter with my uppercuts. He kept moving away. I didn’t mind getting hit for the chance to throw. I opened myself up. My plan was to get him to throw combinations so I could counter but he wouldn’t let go. He’d jab and back up with his hands up high.”
Because Narvaez is four inches shorter, Donaire said he didn’t risk an all-out attack to the body. “He’d duck low each time I went to the body and it was like a headbutt waiting to happen,” explained Donaire. “He just wanted to survive. At the last bell, Narvaez celebrated not because he thought he won but because he went the distance with me. I think his goal was not to get knocked out. For me, a win is a win and I’m happy I beat him. After the decision was announced, Narvaez came up to me to say I’m a great champion and I’m really strong.”
Donaire said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum appreciated his effort to make it exciting. “Bob understood what went on in the ring,” Daonire said. “He told me I couldn’t have done anything more because Narvaez covered himself up the whole fight. He didn’t want to fight. Bob knew I wanted to knock out Narvaez. I think he was pleased with my performance.”
In a recent interview by Boxing News editor Tris Dixon, Donaire said he’s moving forward to advance his career. “I want to keep moving, I’m not waiting,” he said. “A year ago, I was a natural 118. I’m pretty much a superbantamweight now and I see my future in the 122 (pound division). Every time I step in that ring, I’m getting better and better and I know that’s a fact. I want to be better than I was and keep the momentum going. It’s beautiful. I feel great about the whole thing. I’m still motivated. I’m still hungry. I want to keep performing the way I am now.”
Donaire said he learned a lot of lessons from the Narvaez fiasco. For one, he won’t balloon to as much as 145 pounds in between fights. For another, he won’t wait too long before going back to the gym. Donaire is now in Manila and plans to return to the US on Nov. 24. He intends to report to the Undisputed Gym in San Carlos City, California, before the month ends and will be ready to fight again as early as January.
“I just want to keep getting bigger and bigger for the Philippines, for the fans and for myself and see where I can bring my skills, ability and hard work,” Donaire told Dixon. “I don’t really think about popularity. I just want to keep moving forward.”