IBF/IBO flyweight champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire will be looking for an early knockout when he makes his first title defense against Mexico?s Luis Maldonado at the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut on Sunday (Manila Time).
The champion?s father and trainer Nonito Donaire Sr told Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today in an overseas telephone conversation ?we will go for an early knockout? against Maldonado who earned the title shot by scoring a twelve round unanimous decision over Sergio Espinoza in an IBF title eliminator last October 5.
Donaire made the statement hours before leaving for Connecticut. He said his son Nonito had ?no problems? with his weight and expects to tip the scales at 112 pounds after benefiting from excellent training at the famed ALA Gym in Cebu City.
Meantime, Mexican ring warrior Jorge Arce who may someday face Donaire in a title fight had nothing but praise for the Filipino saying ?he?s a great champion and looks
like a good fighter.
In an interview with Miguel Salazar carried by Fight Beat, Arce said Donaire was ?humble and deserves my respect. He didn?t say much. He just went in there and KO?d the big mouth Vic Darchinyan.? Arce predicted that if he gets a chance to fight Donaire ?it will be a great fight? even as he took a swipe at Darchinyan saying ?it wont be like that fight he (Donaire) had with the fraud Vic Darchinyan.?
The 25 year old Donaire scored a sensational fifth round TKO over the cocky Darchinyan last July 7 to improve his record to 18-1 with 11 knockouts. Donaire?s opponent, 29 year old Maldonado lost by an eighth round TKO to Darchinyan on June 3, 2006. It was the Mexican?s only loss in a record of 37-1-1 with 28 knockouts.
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