By Ronnie Nathanielsz
His confidence boosted by a spectacular one-punch knockout over previously undefeated Australian Vic Darchinyan, IBF/IBO flyweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire says he wants Mexican warrior Jorge Arce even at 118 pounds and says “I want to take him out.”
In an overseas interview with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Donaire who has begun training for the planned December showdown with Arce said “I want to make a statement” in the Arce fight.
Donaire said fighting at 118 pounds wasn’t a problem because he has been fighting at 118, 122 “all my life.”
The 23 year old world champion said “I am going to train as hard as I can” and will begin “sparring slowly” with elder brother Glenn who has a scheduled fight on October 28 in Reno, Nevada.
Donaire stressed that he had “always wanted to fight Arce because he is one of the good fighters who still has something left in him and I don’t want to fight him when he’s old and doesn’t have anything anymore.” Donaire said he knows that Arce is “quite capable right now.”
Like Donaire, Arce has also been training alongside Mexican icon Marco Antonio Barrera in Guadalajara, Mexico and was seen in video of Barrera’s training camp obtained by Viva Sports.
Donaire’s father who is also his trainer said fight details were to be finalized between manager Cameron Dunkin and Top Rank’s Bob Arum who were at ringside for the Kelly Pavlik-Jermain Taylor title fight and once the deal is sealed they would travel to Cebu for Donaire to train at the famed ALA Gym where there is an abundance of good sparring partners.
