The best don’t normally fight each other much below Featherweight in Boxing and it’s even rarer to see them fight on HBO or Showtime. However late last year Showtime realised the potential in the Bantamweight class and looked to create another Super 6, which would of included consensus number one Fernando Montiel against Nonito Donaire who was moving up in weight but considered by many to have star potential. Ultimately a deal was struck outside of the confines of a Bantamweight Super 6 that meant Montiel would defend his WBC & WBO titles against Nonito Donaire and HBO happily picked up the fight which takes place this Saturday at the Mandalay Bay Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, NV. It’s a very attractive match up between two guys who’s styles mess very well, both have power, speed and excellent fundamentals. For his part Donaire 25-1(17) will be looking to in his own words “Sky rocket his career” he knows this fight holds the keys to possible stardom & crossover appeal enjoyed by only a handful of Boxers today. He has a massive upside and many believe him to be someone who can do much like his fellow Filipino Manny Pacquiao did and move successfully through the several weight classes. At only 28 already conqueror of 2 worlds he seeks a third knowing this will be the toughest fight of his career.
Hello Nonito, welcome to 15rounds.com
Anson Wainwright – Firstly congratulation’s on a terrific Bantamweight debut. Looking back on your fight with Wladimir Sidorenko what are your thoughts on the fight & how happy were you with your performance?
Nonito Donaire – I trained really hard for that fight. I was really happy with the performance. To be able to get to Montiel, I was set up to win, if I win then i would fight Montiel and I accomplished that. I felt strong at Bantamweight, my speed and power was there. I’m becoming more natural in the weight, I didn’t have to cut down to much. So I was really comfortable at Bantamweight.
Anson Wainwright – Your fighting Fernando Montiel at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas this Saturday. That looks a fantastic fight. What do you think of that fight?
Nonito Donaire – I think it’s good for Boxing. You have two technical guys with power & speed, going in there. It’s a very interesting fight, it’s a fight to look forward too. I mean both Montiel & I want knock out wins. I’m going to go out there and try to knock him out. You’ve got two guys trying to prove who’s the best in the division. It’s going to be a good fight, a very exciting fight.
Anson Wainwright – What do you think of Montiel?
Nonito Donaire – As a fighter, as a champion he’s been there for a long time. I think before I even turned pro he was a top guy. He knows what to do out there. He has tremendous power, tremendous experience. I want to beat Montiel. I think Montiel is the guys who’s going to Sky rocket my career to better fights and better deals.
Anson Wainwright – Could you tell us about your team, who is your manager, trainer & Promoter? Also what gym do you regularly train at?
Nonito Donaire – Right now for quite a few years actually i’ve worked with Cameron Dunkin as my manager. I work with a strength trainer Michael Bazzel, he does a lot of Pyometrics and stuff like that. I have my ART guy which is Active Release Technique, he’s a Chiropractor. He’s pretty much helped me out when i’m injured or have injuries or pain. He comes and fixes that for me, realigns my spine aswell. Then of course my two trainers Jonathan Penalosa who holds the mits for me and does the physical work for me and my other trainer is Robert Garcia who pretty much heads the strategic part of my fights. He’s out there talking to me in the corner. He’s making decisions on the fight, how I am going to be able to take advantage of my opponent. And of course my nutritionalist Victor Conte who pretty much helped me get the proper diet, the proper amount of minerals and nutrients in my body stuff like that and be healthy for the weigh in. Then I have my sprint trainer Rimi Korchemny. So I have all these guys who do all these things to prepare me mentally and physically. All these guys believe in me, so I have a very good team around me. Of course my wife pretty much does everything all around. I’m promoted by Top Rank and i’ve been with them going on 3 years. I train in San Carlos in California at Undisputed.
Anson Wainwright – Could you tell us about your early years growing up in The Philippines and later America? How did you first become interested in Boxing?
Nonito Donaire – Well it was very tough in the Philippines, my family didn’t have much money at all. We were poor a lot of the time my parents were trying to earn as much as they can because they had 4 children including me. They were trying to work as much as they could so we’d have food on the table. It was a difficult journey growing up. I didnt feel like anything would happen to me and then when we moved to the United States everything was very different. For the first time in my life I saw diversity. After a year or two my brother started Boxing and as much as I liked to box it felt like i needed my parents approval to make them proud of me and I thought that was the way. The way they looked at my brother everytime he won, they were proud. They were happy to see us win. That’s how i got started. The main part of that was my dad wanted us to be off the streets instead of going out with our friends he wanted us in the gym. Instead of hanging around doing nothing.
Anson Wainwright – Your coming out party was when you brutally KO’d Vic Darchinyan with one left hook in 2007. Is that how you see it and looking back what are your thoughts on that fight and why the rematch never took place?
Nonito Donaire – That fight we really worked hard for and studied Darchinyan. We were confident we’d win by knock out. When I was interviewed a week or two before the fighti said I was going to knock this guy out and we were able to accomplish that goal and everything changed form that point on. It was an incredible feeling to achieve what I had dreamed of since I was little becoming a world champion. I have no idea (Why the rematch never took place) after the Darchinyan & Maldonado fight I stayed more than a year without a fight, I don’t know what happened. I even stayed for a long time at 112 to be able to give him a rematch. When I was in the 115 division we were supposed to fight last year on Showtime August 21st and 3 months before the fight when I came to sign the contract they backed out, they said I was taking to long to sign the contract. Which was ridiculous because the fight was 3 months away. He said I took to long to sign and they didn’t want to wait for me. I was like it doesn’t matter when I sign the contract. My point is the first time I signed the contract at the weigh in and they never complained about that. I know he’s affraid of me and that’s why the rematch never happened. I waited to give him the opportunity but i’m done waiting around. So I fought Sidorenko and now i’m fighting Montiel. So i’m moving on.
Anson Wainwright – Your name was linked with a Super 6 in the Bantamweight division. Obviously that didn’t happen what are your thoughts on that & what do you think of the 4 man tournament and who do you think will win it?
Nonito Donaire – Well my goal was we were supposed to be in that tournament & Montiel. But Top Rank advised Montiel and then me to pull out and by doing so they’d give me Montiel. I believe Montiel is better than all of them. Those guys are world champions or world calibre fighters but I believe Montiel’s the best in the division right now and on Saturday 19th i’m better than him. That’s my goal that’s why I choose to stick with the Montiel fight.
Anson Wainwright – When your not fighting what is your walk around weight?
Nonito Donaire – Usually if I’m not doing anything maybe 140 or close to that. It was really tough to make 112. I was hungry and not happy. I think that’s why my performances have got a lot better and because of the guys working with me and I focus on my game plan or what’s going to happen and take advantage of my opponent, whereas before I would focus on losing weight and maintaining weight was my main focus. Now I’ll cut down on weight but not as much. But my main focus now is putting a game plan together and executing it.
Anson Wainwright – You won a world Title at Flyweight and have since moved up to 115 where you won an Interim belt and your now up at 118. Without getting ahead of ourselves how many more divisions do you think you can successfully fight in?
Nonito Donaire – I think I’ll be comfortable as I grow older and as the years go by up to 130 or higher.
Anson Wainwright – When your not Boxing what are your hobbies and Interests? What other sports do you like and what teams do you support?
Nonito Donaire – I do a lot of photography and filming doing a lot of stuff for my website. Doing some little films and things like that, that’s who I am. I love sports, when I was younger I used to play a lot Basketball, I used to do track and field, I played Soccer, I played football, baseball, I played a lot of sports. I still do, I play a little Basketball or Football but of course I can’t play as much now because when I play I get right into it and don’t want to get injured. I support the Bay area teams like the San Francisco Giants, in the world series or the 49’ers. I watch a lot of Basketball as well and like the Golden State Warriors the Kings. I watch a lot of Sports with my friends.
Anson Wainwright – Your countryman Manny Pacquiao has done wonderful things for Boxing in your country and in general. Could you tell us a little about your relationship with him and how you feel he’s helped create opportunity’s for Filipino’s?
Nonito Donaire – He’s done a lot. I met him in 2000. We actually went to the same school, without knowing that we did. If we see each other we’ll probably have lunch or dinner and we’ll talk for a little bit. He’s a very busy man. But he’s done a lot for the country, not only to inspire it but make it better for people to work together, just a lot of inspiration from that man has got me an a lot of people to work hard and to do the best for ourselves and for the country.
Anson Wainwright – How do you think the fight with Montiel will be viewed in The Philippines. Will it be similar to when Manny Pacquiao fight in that much of the country pretty much comes to a standstill and almost straight after there are bootleg DVD’s available?
Nonito Donaire – Yeah, that happens a lot, one time I fought and the next day they already had my fight in the bootleg section. That was pretty funny. The Philippines has so much love for Boxing, especially for world class fighters. When they fight the whole country stops and gives there support. It means a lot to me for them to do that, so far they’ve been watching my fights and giving me the ratings on the networks, who said it’s pretty high.
Anson Wainwright – How popular are you when you go back amongst the people?
Nonito Donaire – Yeah it’s hard when i’m walking in the mall there’s always someone who recognises me and take a picture, one comes a whole crowd comes. I’m truely blessed with that. It’s been really crazy. There promoting this fight really big in the Philippines.
Anson Wainwright – So if you win this fight, perhaps you’ll get the same treatment as Manny Pacquiao did on 24/7 when you turn up at the airport the plane is ready to leave when you are! Haha
Nonito Donaire – When it comes it comes! Haha
Anson Wainwright – Your fellow Filipino Z Gorres was very badly injured in 2009. How is he doing?
Nonito Donaire – I haven’t really talked to him. His wife facebooked my wife and Z Gorres was telling my wife he wished so bad he could of helped me with this fight. But the only thing he thing he can do for me is pray for me and give me his support. I know a lot of the ALA guys. They all support me the same way I support them.
Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for your fans?
Nonito Donaire – I want to thank each and everyone of them for there support and being there through out. I hope they pray for me and my best everytime I fight. That they cheer and enjoy the fight. Watch February 19 or February 20 wherever your at. It’s going to be very exciting, that’s something you guys can’t miss.
Thanks for your time Nonito, keep up the good work.
Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com
Midweek Thoughts – On Saturday night at Sands Tavern Maroochydore Australia several bouts took place.
(10 x 3)
Australian lightweight champion and first time promoter Brett W Smith put on a great promotion with his debut event at the Sands Tavern Maroochydore. Two professional, six amateur and one exhibition bout provided plenty of action for the night.
Brett W Smith (62.3) probably realised early in the first round of his eight round KO loss to Filipino Jack Asis, that promoting an event and being the main fight isn’t easy.
Brett was down twice in the first round from flurries of hard punches, he managed to find his feet after the shaky start and box his way back into the fight in rounds two and the start of round three before a cut in the third added to his problems. Rounds four and five were much the same as the previous with Brett seemingly in control of the fight when he chose to box only to lose control quickly when he tried to punch it out with his tough opponent. A warning in the sixth on top of being hurt a couple of times spelt more trouble and after another knock down at the end of round seven Brett showed a true champions heart to come out in the eight.
The packed crowd couldn’t lift their local hero and after more brutal exchanges and another knockdown the fight was stopped 1.05 of the eight round, referee was Alan Moore and judges Adrian Cairns, Adam Height and Steve Marshall all had Jack Asis ahead 66-65, 67-64 and 68-63 respectively at the time of stoppage.
Due to a change of opponents twice in the lead up to this fight Brett’s Australian Lightweight title was not on the line, and disappointed as he was after Brett assured me that injuries aside he is willing to defend his title against anyone, jokingly adding so long as it is on someone else’s promotion.
(4 x 3)
Brett John Smith( 65.7) showed his experience with his second round KO over Ryan Mc Donald who was having his first pro fight.
Smith controlled the fight throughout the first round with snappy combinations and some hard shots and continued with more of the same at the start of the second before the end came at .50 in the same round.
Referee was Steve Marshall and judges Adrian Cairns, Adam Height and Alan Moore all had Smith winning the first round.
Global Amateur Results
Australian Heavyweight Title
Tyson Andrews (94.6) KO 2 Glen Ayres
Queensland Middleweight Title
Shane Parry (75) win unanimous points over Nick Murry (69.54)
S/E Queensland Middleweight Title
Ben Greenslade (69.8) win unanimous points over Stuart Shaw (72.1)
Josh Coutts (91.8) win points over Dan Dwyer (87.5)
Dean Flanigan (70.8) win points over Joey Evans (71.68)
Ali Jerkil win points over Josh Adams
Fight report courtesy of Brad Arnold, who was ringside.
