Tuesday, November 04, 2008 Donaire eyes to become undisputed champ
INTERNATIONAL Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. is aware of the intricacies of the business side of the sport and being a champion, he makes it a point to make himself always ready for possible big fights.
After disposing off his mandatory challenger Moruti Mthalane last weekend via a sixth round TKO Donaire is now looking at the opportunity of moving up not only to the next division available but even beyond that.
Interviewed by Philippine sports website SportsNews.ph yesterday, Donaire said he is positioning himself for a shot not only at anyone of the two champions in the super flyweight divisions but also among the champions in the equally tough bantamweight territory.
"I can still make 112 but my goal is to become the undisputed champion. The Japanese they just don't want to fight so I guess it's time for me to move up," said Donaire.
Daisuke Naito holds the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight crown while Takefumi Sakata is the World Boxing Association (WBA) 112 champion.
In declaring his readiness to move up in weight, it is natural that people would like to see the stylish Donaire lock horns once again with one-time foe Vic Darchinyan.
The same day Donaire stopped Mthalane at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Darchinyan added the WBC and WBA super flyweight belts to his IBF tiara as he shocked highly-favored Mexican Cristian Mijares with a brutal ninth round knockout held at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
The win made Darchinyan the first-ever unified champion by virtue of his three world title belts. Mexican Fernando Montiel holds the World Boxing Organization (WBO) 115 pound crown and is considered by many as a legitimate champion owing to the tough lineup of challengers he vanquished.
Possibility
Donaire captured boxing stardom when he kayoed Darchinyan with a single punch in the fifth round of their IBF title fight July of last year in Connecticut. To date, the loss to Donaire remains the only dent in Darchinyan's terrifying 31-1-1, 25 KOs record.
"It's always a possibility but I really don't know if that will happen because the promoters don't get along. But if people try hard enough it's a possibility. For me I don't have problems facing him again because I know how to beat him," said Donaire.
Darchinyan belongs to Gary Shaw Productions, the same outfit that promoted Donaire until the Filipino became a world champion. After one title defense Donaire's manager Cameron Dunkin felt it was time to jump ship and join Top Rank's Bob Arum.
"It was not my decision and I don't think Gary and Top Rank, get along. But I have no problems with Gary. I am actually thanking him for the opportunity that I have, you know, winning the title and now I'm here because of the fact that he gave me that title shot," said Donaire. (PR)
