Nonito Donaire Welcomes Planned March Return in Manila

by Ronnie Nathanielsz

Five division world champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Doanire welcomes plans for his return to the ring in Manila next March.

Donaire, who is flying to Tokyo to serve as a panelist on the Japanese television coverage of the Manny Pacquiao-Chris Algieri title fight in Macau on Saturday told BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard/Viva Sports that he's learned his next fight has been discussed between Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and ABS-CBN's consultant for Sports, Peter Musngi.

Donaire said "that will be good" in reference to a fight in March in Manila which will be some two months before his wife Rachel is expected to give birth to their second child.

He had originally wanted to return in May but when it was confirmed that his wife was pregnant, Donaire decided to bring the fight date forward because he wants to be with Rachel during the child's birth.

Donaire has decided to move back to super bantamweight where he had his greatest run of success in 2012 when he was named "Fighter of the Year" and was in the top ten of Ring Magazine's pound for pound ranking.

Donaire, who suffered a 6th round TKO against undefeated Jamaican Nicholas Walters at the StubHub Center in Carson last month, said he "didn't take the loss too hard" even as he admitted that Walters "dominated me."

He attributed that to his "throwing away game plan" which he implemented in the early rounds and did well, even buckling the knees of Walters just before the bell in round two.

Donaire said "we'll learn from our mistakes" even as he revealed that he had brought in "some new guys including a strength and conditioning coach and a nutritionist" and added "I'll be good and we are happy about everything."