by Ronnie Nathanielsz
Former WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire believes he will be better if he moves up in weight and fights as a featherweight.
However, in a conversation with BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard the former top five pound for pound fighter said that should he continue to fight at 122 pounds he would “have to watch my diet and work on my nutrition scheduling” to make the weight limit.
Donaire who lost his title to former Cuban two time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux last April 13, indicated that he would need more time to prepare for a super bantamweight fight and that he would prefer to return to the ring in October and not September as earlier planned.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum had noted that Donaire appeared to be struggling to make the 122 pound limit even as Donaire conceded his body was getting bigger and he was growing.
The four division world champion told us “I’ll be a lot better at featherweight because of my speed” but made it clear that even if he remains at 122 he will be one hundred percent ready.
Donaire who underwent surgery on his right shoulder because of a bone spur and two torn ligaments said he is “recovering well and healing faster than I expected and making good progress with my therapy.”
Donaire and wife Rachel who are expecting their first child around July 21 just returned from what Rachel described as a “very relaxing” trip to Hawaii.
She also confirmed that they had purchased a nice, 7 bedroom house in Las Vegas some time ago but kept it under wraps.
ABS-CBN’s Las Vegas correspondent Bev Llorente told us about the new home which she indicated was in the eastern side of the city not far from where Top Rank promoter Bob Arum lives.
