By Ronnie Nathanielsz
IBF/IBO Filipino flyweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire (19-1, 12 ‘s) sparred ten rounds today and said he was feeling great after the workout at the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas.
In an overseas telephone conversation with insidesports.ph, Manila Standard and Viva Sports, Donaire who defends his title against mandatory challenger Moruti Mthalane (22-1, 15 KO’s) of South Africa at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino on November 1 said he was “feeling good” especially since he weighed 117 pounds, just five pounds over the flyweight limit after his workout, having come down from around 126 pounds a couple of weeks ago.
Donaire said he sparred five rounds with Adam Fiel, an outstanding amateur lightweight and another five rounds with another tough fighter after which he did four rounds on the punch-mitts.
Donaire conceded that they had “concerns over the years” about his weight but this time he felt good because he “made the weight in the pre-fight weigh-in. Everything is fine.”
After watching tapes of Mthalane, the exciting and skilled Filipino said Mthalane “likes to come in and throw a lot of punches and he’s in shape.” Donaire said that “whatever is best I’ll do. If I need to box him I’ll box him and if I can out-fight him I’ll out-fight him. I’ll do whatever the situation demands.”
