Donaire: Rigo is Smart, But Always Does The Same Thing

By Mike Coppinger

NEW YORK -- As Nonito Donaire prepares for his first of 2013, on the heels of a banner 2012 which saw him named the BWAA's Fighter of the Year, he reflected on his accomplishments and feels there is nothing left to prove in the sport, even in the face of perhaps his biggest challenge in the form of Guillermo Rigondeaux on Saturday at Radio City Music Hall on HBO.

On what is left to prove in the sport:

“I don’t need to prove anything anymore. I've done everything I needed to do in boxing. I’ve accomplished a lot more than a lot of people in the boxing world. For me, it’s pretty much another day, another step to say ‘I told you so.’”

 On the challenge Rigondeaux brings:

"I think that he’s a smart guy, but he tends to fall into doing the same thing over and over. We’ll see what he gives Saturday. He is a talented fighter, a lot of things that he’s gonna do are not gonna work so he’s going to have to figure out something. If he doesn’t change, then it’s going to be my game from the very get-go.

"One thing I do know is that I’m a thinking fighter. If he’s smarter than I am, then he’s going to take advantage of it, but if he’s not, then (the fight) is going to be all ours throughout the night. He has good power and good speed as well, that’s pretty much it. A guy that is faster than me is going to give me a lot of trouble, but if he’s not, then it’s not gonna be a fight. He looks good, but hey, we’ll see.

“I just want to fight the best out there… I’m honored by that the fact that I’m recognized (as a pound-for-pound fighter). I just go out there and keep fighting the best out there to see how far I can get."

On baby Jarel on the way:

"I’m most excited about the biggest moment of my life; this is another level. I’ve done everything. I’ve won fights throughout my life; I’ve been champion for quite a while now, I’ve been pound-for-pound for quite a while now as well. My baby is going to be the thing that I’m looking forward to and that’s what matters most. I’m not going to downplay the effort that my (baby) has played, but we’re going to win this fight. But I’m more excited about my family.

"I’ve heard women get crazy and all this, but Rachel has been such a tremendous person to me, she just makes things easy for me."

On putting on an exciting fight after his unentertaining fight with Omar Narvaez in New York in 2011:

"I’ve accomplished a lot and there’s nothing else to prove for me, I’m just going to go out there and win. That’s pretty much what I have in my mind – just keep winning and go further. We’re ready for everything, it’s just another day."

On how fighting four times last year helps:

"You’re fresh mentally and you’re ready to go. Like I said, he only has 11 fights bur for me I fought four times last year and to just go in that ring becomes natural."

On winner the Fighter of the Year award:

"It’s amazing. It’s pretty much the icing on the cake when it comes down to accomplishments. You’ve done everything you can in boxing. You keep trying to win, but you’ve done a lot of things. It’s like a pat on my back like ‘hey, well done.’"

Follow Mike Coppinger on Twitter: @MikeCoppinger