By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire (19-1, 12 KO’s) will train for his October 11 mandatory title defense against slick South African Moruti “Baby Face” Mthalane 22-1, 15 KO’s) in the gambling capital of Asia, Macau, at the famed ALA Gym in Cebu.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum earlier told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today that he would be in Macau for four days to attend the 75th birthday celebrations of Sheldon Adelson, owner of the plush Venetian where the fight would be held in a 15,000 seat venue and would finalize arrangements for the Donaire title defense.
Arum recently signed up the flashy Filipino who won the title with a sensational one-punch fifth round stoppage of cocky Australian Vic Darchinyan on July 7 last year and then blasted Luis Maldonado in eight rounds last December 1.
Donaire who trained for his last title defense against Maldonado at the ALA Gym will return to train at the classy venue because of the wealth of talented sparring partners available in preparation for his title defense. He said he plans to train for two months at the ALA Gym.
Donaire had earlier challenged Japanese world champions Daisuke Naito (WBC) and Takefum,I Sakata (WBA) who ignored Donaire’s challenge for a unification bout and will instead fight fellow Japanese which is one way of ensuring that the title stays in Japan.
Naito who also trains for short periods at the ALA Gym will fight national champion Tomonobu Shimizu who is ranked No. 13 while Sakata will face Hiroyuki Hisataka who is ranked No.3 by the WBA.
Donaire told dzSR Sports Radio host Dennis Principe that because of his long layoff he had wanted to have a tune-up fight but claimed the IBF “didn’t want to let me get a tune-up so we will have to go straight with the mandatory."
Donaire .said he hadn’t fought in nearly a year but it doesn’t matter since he was being given an opportunity to showcase his ability and promised to “train hard and work the best I can to get in the best shape possible.”
Donaire said Mthalane is “not afraid to throw a lot of punches and made his way up by bullying his opponents and throwing as much punches and wearing them down."
