by Ronnie Nathanielsz
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has warned 2012 “Fighter of the Decade” Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire that WBA/IBO featherweight champion Simpiwe Vetyeka of South Africa, whom he faces at the Cotai Arena of the plush Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino in Macau on May 31, “is no pushover.”
Vetyeka won the title in Metro City, Perth, Western Australia last December when longtime champion Chris John failed to come out at the end of the sixth round after he received a beating from Vetyeka.
Donaire realizes that winning a fifth world title against the tough South Africa won’t be easy and is continuing to train hard at the famed ALA Gym in Cebu.
Donaire’s father/trainer Nonito “Dodong” Donaire Sr told the Manila Standard that “training went pretty good on Monday. He (Nonito) is getting in shape now and has lost some weight. We are doing fine.”
At last week’s press conference hosted by Top Rank, Donaire said he weighed 140 pounds but his dad told us, there would be no problem making the 126 pound limit.
He said that on Monday Nonito did “one hour of conditioning with strength and conditioning coach Nick Curson and went a few rounds on the punch mitts” and it had to be cut short “because I got tired.”
The trainer said he is “happy with the way he (Nonito) looks and said “he is not breathing hard” during training which means his stamina is good.
The father/trainer disclosed that Donaire would spar six rounds on Tuesday against undefeated Cuban Reman Castellane Aleye with whom he has had some torrid exchanges since they first sparred some two weeks ago.
Donaire plans to return to Manila on Friday and resume training at the Elorde Gym in Paranaque City where he will spar six rounds with an unnamed Thai fighter before he returns to Cebu on May 11 to continue his training.
Although Vetyeka’s promoter Andile Sidinile regards Dionaire as one of the best fighters in the world he expressed confidence Veyteka will retain his title on fight night in Macau.
He was quoted by reporter Mawande Myumyu of the City Press newspaper in South Africa in which he said “we are ready for Nonito Donaire and as team Vetyeka we are under no illusion that this is going to be a very difficult fight. But we believe that to be the best, you have to beat the best.”
In building up to the defense of his WBA/IBO 126 pound belts the 33 year old Vetyeka will be guided by what has been described as “a former dominant force in the super bantamweight worldwide throughout the ‘90’s – Vuyani “The Beast” Bungu and the highly regarded Lennox Mpulampula.”
Team Vetyeka has reportedly scheduled 200 rounds of sparring and is looking for sparring partners from around the world.
