By Ryan Burton

 

We welcomed  Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire to the most recent edition of The Boxing Lab, BoxingScene.com's official audio show.  Donaire, who has held titles at 112, 115 and 118 pounds, is making his super bantamweight debut on February 4th against former champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. in San Antonio, Texas.

 

WBA super bantamweight champion Guillmermo Rigondeaux called out Donaire after his 6th round knockout of the previously undefeated Rico Ramos this past Friday.  When we asked Donaire if he looked at Rigondeaux as a potential opponent, the Las Vegas resident said that WBC super bantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka and WBO bantamweight champion Jorge Arce are at the top of his list of possible future opponents in the division and that Rigondeaux doesn't bring as much to the table as the aforementioned fighters.

 

"Guillermo goes on the back of the list.  He hasn't impressed me yet to where he is one of the best in the division," Donaire explained.  "When I decided to move up I wanted to fight Nishioka and Arce.  He hasn't impressed me to the point where he boils my blood and I want to jump right into training (to face him).  I don't want to get back into a fight like Narvaez where the fans come and pay money to see me and then he won't engage," he continued.

 

Donaire didn't want to bash Rigondeaux and said that the Cuban is a good fighter. Donaire also said that at this stage of his career he wants to make sure that he faces opponents that will fight a fan friendly style.

"At this point I have accomplished a lot in life and I want to give the fans a good fight.  I am not taking anything away from him.  He is a good fighter and he accomplished a lot in the amateur ranks and now he starting to do it in the pro ranks," Donaire told The Boxing Lab.

 

Send questions or comments to ringsidewriter@gmail.com Follow Ryan on Twitter @ringsidewriter and tune in to The Boxing Lab, Boxingscene's official audio on Tuesdays. The show is hosted by Ernie Gabion, Luis Sandoval and Ryan Burton.