Donaire promises a better show

CARSON, California – When Nonito Donaire Jr. climbs the ring on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) he brings with him fond memories of his victories over Jeffrey Mathebula and Toshiaki Nishioka in 2012.

Donaire beat the South African on points in July of that year then knocked the Japanese out in October at the sprawling Home Depot Center, now known as the StubHub Center.

The hard-hitting Filipino also defeated Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. and Jorge Arce earlier and later that year to keep the super-bantamweight titles and earn Fighter of the Year honors.

On Saturday, he returns to the old venue now under a new name, a venue that’s been so kind to him. He faces the undefeated Nicholas Walters of Jamaica for the WBA featherweight crown.

Yesterday, Donaire, 31, vowed to put on an even better show.

“Third time. Pero mas maganda pa ito (This will even be nicer),” he told Pinoy scribes just four days before the fight.

“I’m ready for the fight. I’m ready,” added Donaire, a four-division world champion who wants to prove that he still belongs to the list of elite fighters.

Walters, undefeated in 24 bouts with 20 knockouts, fought most of his early fights in Panama and Jamaica, and had been to Corpus Christi in Texas, and Macau.

But he’s never been to this suburban city with so many Filipino residents. At the Carson International Sculpture Garden along Avalon Boulevard, a statue of Dr. Jose Rizal, the national hero from the Philippines, stands.

The eight-foot bronze statue is located just a couple of miles away from the fight venue, and it’s almost like Donaire is fighting on home soil.

Donaire lost the super-bantamweight titles to Guillermo Rigondeaux, a two-time Olympic champion, in April of 2013, and immediately critics jumped on him.

But the Filipino boxer has racked up two straight wins over old foe Vic Darchinyan and another South African in Simpiwe Vetyeka. 

Still, some people are far from convinced that he’s back as the same old fighter. But what matters to him now is that he’s back as world champion.

“I’m excited for this fight,” said Donaire, who trained for two months under his father, Nonito Sr., at the family-owned gym in Oakland.

“I’m excited because my dad and I are finally one mentally. We are both excited. We’ll just see what the production is,” he added.

To cap his training, Donaire sparred with Stan Martyniouk a Russian-born American who stands 5’10” and has been employed as one of Manny Pacquiao’s sparring partners.

“We’ve done everything in training,” said Donaire.