By Chris Robinson
I think the most disappointing thing about the next two weeks, in terms of boxing, is the fact that May 28th was initially set to mark the return of WBC and WBO bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire to the ring. The Filipino-American star sizzled in his last outing, a thorough, second-round starching of Los Mochis' Fernando Montiel, and Top Rank promoter Bob Arum had toyed with the idea of his charge facing off with WBA champion Anselmo Moreno, a fight that would have given the 28-year old a great chance to keep his momentum going.
But for the moment Donaire's next move remains very uncertain. In March he signed a very lucrative deal with Golden Boy Promotions, fully believing that his contract with Top Rank was not binding as he hadn't been promised his guaranteed three fights per year as initially stated. But Arum took the matters to court, citing injuries to the fighter and subsequent layoffs as the main reason for the lack of inactivity, and judge Daniel Weinstein ruled in Top Rank's favor, thus preventing Golden Boy from conducting any immediate business with the charismatic pugilist.
But while his career has come to a momentary lull, Donaire is still a busy man, enjoying some traveling time with family and close friends as well as being spotted ringside at several shows in the Vegas and California areas. While at these events, outside of showing support to his stable mates and friends, Donaire has been working on his craft as a photographer in his latest endeavor 'Flash Photography'.
Donaire was recently spotted at his buddy Andre Ward's commanding unanimous decision victor over tough Armenian Arthur Abraham this past weekend in Carson, California.
While taking a break with BoxingScene.com's Luis Sandoval, Donaire gave his take on Ward's performance, his current career status, who he would like to fight next, and much more.
Continue reading for all of Nonito's thoughts...
Watching WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward's latest victory...
"My brother did a great, great job. He was smart. In the beginning it was kind of rocky because he didn't know what to do with the guy in front of him because he kept coming in. But he started toying with him, he used his reach, used his combinations, pushed him off, and he just figured him out. That's the type of fighter he is. He just gets better and better each time he fights. It just pushing me, Robert 'The Ghost' Guerrero, and everybody in that Bay Arena fighting scene. We inspire each other, we are great friends, like brothers."
Reflecting on the victory over Montiel...
"There's a satisfaction in your heart that you've beaten somebody who you truly respected and felt that he was a true champion. It was an amazing experience to be able to beat a fighter like e Montiel"
In God's direction...
"Definitely. I think that, I always have faith in God. I always have faith in whatever direction he takes me. I'm a young twenty-eight years old and once I start getting up there in the heavier class, it's going to be a harder challenge but at the same time I'll see the best of what I can do and that's where I want to be."
His current legal situation with Top Rank and Golden Boy...
"Right now I don't really know what's going on. It's just that. I'll just always lay it out to my faith in God. Right now I'm just having a good time. Maybe this is the time for me to rest and [be around] the friends that I have and the family that I have. It's great. It's just a great time."
Who's next once he returns?
"First of all, I had the poll on who they wanted me to fight. A lot of guys wanted me to go up to 122, which is no problem with me with Arce. But the poll was in the bantamweights, to unify all of the belts. And the guy that was up there was Mares that they wanted to vote on. But there's all those guys. I want to fight everybody at 118."
Always down for another rumble with Vic Darchinyan...
"Last year, August 21st was the scheduled date for us. Three months months before that he pulled out, saying I signed the contract too long, but it was three more months before the fight. And the first fight we had, I signed the day of the weigh-ins. He just didn't want to face me. They said that he didn't want to fight me right now. He called me out after his fight against Perez and you know what? He's actually growing a little more balls to call me out and really mean it. But I'm not here to talk. I'm here to fight. I'm not here to call out anybody. Well, I'll call out anybody when I have to, like when I did with Montiel, because I really wanted that fight. But I'm here to fight anybody. So, whoever they have in front of me, I'm more willing to exchange with them leather you know?"
Willing to fight...
"I think that as I move up in weight there are going to be more challenges and I think they are going to underestimate me because I came from the lower weights like they did Manny for a long period of time. I'm just going to try and see whatever's better out there. I know there's a lot of fighters out there. We're fighters, we fight whoever is in that ring. That's who I want to fight, guys who are really, truly willing to fight."
