By Rey Danseco
NEWLY crowned International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. believes the other world champions in his division are below par when compared to his skill level and abilities in the ring.
Donaire said it is a fact that he's the youngest but the best among the world champions in 112-pound weight division, stating that Daisuke Naito, Takefumi Sakata of Japan and Argentinean Omar Narvaez are afraid to fight him.
“I want to unify but the Japanese champs and Narvaez are afraid (to fight),” the 24-year old Donaire told BoxingScene.com after his work out at the U.S. Karate and Boxing Gym in Hayward, California, where he is preparing for anticipated fight sometime in December.
“They are all really slow and have no power so I’m not sure (if they also interested in unification). “I don’t think they pose a threat to me as long as I'm in shape.”
Donaire, who began his light training two weeks ago in Hayward, which is about five minutes drive from his based in San Leandro, revealed that his ambition is to get all the belts before going back to super flyweight.
Donaire was campaigning in 115-pounds when he took the chance and then captured the IBF crown with a devastating one-punch knockout win in the fifth round against bully Australian-Armenian Vic Darchinyan on July 7 at Harbour Yard Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
“We’ll I'm just really longing to get the third belt before going up,” the 24-year old champ said. “I can still stay in it for a long time but once if I get the third belt I’m going up and campaign on 115.”
Among the three champions, 27-year old WBA champion Sakata, having a 31-4-1 record with 15 knockouts, who has a chance to fight Donaire (Donaire has 18-1, 11 KOs) this year because won't commit.
On October 11, Naito (31-2-2, 20 KOs) puts his WBC flyweight title on the line against fellow Japanese fighter Daiki Kameda in Tokyo, Japan. He captured the title from long-time champ Pongsaklek Wonjongkam of Thailand on July 18 with a unanimous decision win in their third meeting.
Narvaez, now 32-years old, will risk his WBO crown for the 10th time against lowly rated Nicaraguan Marlon Marquez, a boxer who is coming off a loss. Their fight will be on September 14 at the Gimnasio Municipal in Trelew, Chubut, Argentina.
Donaire ballooned to almost 140 pounds during his two-week vacation in his native Philippines after his big title winning victory.
“Maybe (I’m) almost 140 pounds,” Donaire told to this writer when he was in his father’s hometown and older brother Glenn’s birthplace of General Santos City in southern Philippines on August 1. “What I do here here is eat and eat.”
But since he has begun his training thee first week of August, Donaire claims he’s now 130-pounds.
