Donaire stakes title vs Arce: It will be bloody, says Pinoy champ

HOUSTON – With Filipino fight fans still reeling from Manny Pacquiao’s recent defeat, reigning WBO super-bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. enters the ring Saturday night here (Sunday noon in Manila) against another Mexican who doesn’t know how to quit.

Donaire said Pacquiao’s devastating loss to Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas last Saturday will have an effect on his fight with Jorge Arce at the Toyota Center.

“A lot,” said the 30-year-old Donaire, who is riding high on a 29-bout winning streak over the last 11 years. He is seeking his fourth win this year, and a big one over Arce will help him win the votes for the 2012 Fighter of the Year award.

Arce’s camp said the victory of Marquez, now the toast of the boxing world, has “lifted the spirits” of all Mexican boxers.

“I want to tell you that what happened last Saturday between Pacquiao and Marquez will happen again. I’m the new surprise,” said the 33-year-old Arce, who loves the smell of blood, even his own.

But it’s not going to help Arce much, Donaire insisted.

“All that energy, all that push will only help him in the beginning. It will all go down once he feels my strength and once he realizes how tough I am. It’s like a sugar rush. It will skyrocket, but will drop down very hard,” said Donaire.

The Filipino champion had just emerged from the elevator and was planning to take an afternoon walk inside the Hyatt Regency premises, surrounded by burly American bodyguards, when Pinoy scribes caught up with him.

Donaire sat down for an interview. He said he can’t wait for the fight because it’s one that has been at the back of his mind for the more than four years now.

“We were supposed to fight in 2008 when we were still flyweights. But it never happened,” said Donaire who tipped the scales Friday at 121.5 lb. Arce had a little trouble making weight, and stripped naked to make the limit at 122 lb.

“I’m ready to go. I wish the fight is just right now. I’m so eager because this whole year I’ve been in the gym, I’ve been training, and I’ve been fighting. (After this fight) I want to go a month with no mention of boxing. I just want to enjoy the holidays.”

Donaire and Arce have shown tremendous respect and admiration for each other. During Wednesday’s press conference they hugged and cuddled each other like they couldn’t hurt each other.

Donaire said everything will change inside the ring, when the bell rings.

“We’re very good friends but come to that fight you will see how much grudge we have for each other. We have grudge inside the ring, but outside of it, we have respect for each other,” said Donaire.

“Whatever happens in that ring, stays in that ring. As a fighter we just kind of leave it out there,” he added.

Donaire knows too much about Arce, and one thing he had always known him by is that Arce never gives up until the final bell or until a knockout comes along.

“But there’s nothing to worry. I’m ready for everything, because if you start to worry about things, then you have to put it in your head and you have to look for that. He has to worry about what I do,” said Donaire.

“Arce is exciting. He’s a good fighter who’s willing to give everything. He’s not afraid to punch and not afraid to be hit.”

Arce will have Marquez’ chief trainer, Nacho Beristain, in his corner, and during training, Angel Hernandez, who is Marquez’ strength and conditioning coach, would also drop by to hand Arce a dose of his knowledge.

“Nacho’s going to be in his corner, I think so. And Marquez is coming in too, to support him. We’ll see. I don’t really care because it all comes down to me and Arce being inside the ring,” said Donaire.

Both boxers have vowed to go for the knockout. It could be a short night at the Toyota Center.

“I think it will happen. I can see it happening. If I see the chance, I will go for it.  But it’s really about setting it up and being smart,” said Donaire who at No. 6 is now ahead of Pacquiao, at No. 7, in Ring Magazine’s pound-for-pound list.

Donaire said it could be bloody, not because Arce loves to break his nose during a fight but because he received word that the Mexican had suffered a cut on one eye during training.

“In the first round, he will bleed no doubt. He got cut in sparring. One jab and it will open up. It’s going to be bloody,” he said.

Promoter Bob Arum said people are still partying in Mexico as a result of Marquez’ sixth-round knockout of Pacquiao, and that Arce, a former five-division world champion, is determined to keep it going for another week.

“The Mexicans are getting drunk and the party is still going on in Mexico,” said Arum.

Donaire is here to stop it all.