by Ronnie Nathanielsz
2012 “Fighter of the Year” Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire is confused over the WBA Championship Committee decision to order negotiations for a mandatory fight between featherweight super champion, Simpiwe Vetyeka (26-2, 16KOs) and the regular champion Nicholas Walters (23-0, 19KOs).
Boxingscene.com reported that both parties were notified and were given 120 days to fight, meaning before April 5, 2014 - which upsets Donaire’s plans to face Walters in a title fight in late April or early May.
Vetyeka, who is also the IBO champion ended the longest reign in boxing when he scored 6th round TKO over Indonesia’s Chris John who decided to quit before the start of the seventh round.
Walters won the WBA title with a 7th round TKO over Daulis Prescott on December 8, 2012 and retained the title with a 4th round TKO of Alberto Garza in his first title defense last November 9 to remain undefeated with a record of 23-0 with 19 knockouts.
While his fractured cheekbone is “healing well but it takes time because its not the muscle, it’s the bone." Donaire told us he would be “ready in late April but it would be better in May.”
Informed of the WBA decision Donaire told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard - “I don’t understand. If they have as super champion and a regular champion (Walters) why do they have to fight each other instead of the No.1 contender? I don’t understand but I guess they’ll open up the regular championship if that’s the case.”
Donaire said he will “try to get back into training next week and be more active now unlike before when I would only train when the contract is there. This time I want to train all year round starting next year and keep training and be always in the gym rather that show up when the fight is there.”
At the same time Donaire said he hopes the family including wife Rachel and son Jarel could visit the Philippines sometime in January next year.
