By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Former five division world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire is “more motivated and very happy” that WBO president Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel has elevated the showdown against No.1 ranked WBO International super bantamweight champion Cesar Juarez to a world title fight this Friday in Puerto Rico.
Nonito’s father/trainer “Dodong” Donaire told the New Standard/BoxingScene.com that although both he and Nonito knew some weeks ago that the fight would be eventually for the world title they were “just waiting for the official announcement” which was made at the official press conference yesterday.
Donaire Sr. said Juarez was “very confident himself and is looking for an upset but we are not worried about that because Nonito won’t let him do that” even as he rbevealed that they “had a strategy and a counter for everything. Nonito can box, he can slug and is very smart this time.”
He revealed that Team Donaire will arrive in Manila on December 17 and they are looking to give Filipino fight fans a real treat in the fight which will be telecast by the giant broadcast networks ABS-CBN on Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
Meantime. “Dodong” said Mike Bassel won’t be in Puerto Rico since he will be handling Bruno Escalante in a North American Boxing Federation title fight in Robston,Texas also on Saturday against undefeated Oscar Cantu (12-0, 1 KO) a Texas resident.
Escalante has a record of 14-1-1 with 6 knockouts and is the reigning IBA super flyweight champion having won the titkle with a ten round majority decision over Michael RBuiz Jr on December 7, 2013.
