LAS VEGAS - FEBRUARY 18 -Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire made the bantamweight limit alongside WBC/WBO champion Fernando "KO-Chulito" Montiel and said he was ready to wage war in a bid to bring the world title to the Philippines.
In an unbelievably crowded official weigh-in attended by several big name fighters including Juan Manuel "Juanma" Lopez, Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera, Antonio Margarito, Jorge Arce and Cristian Mijares, both Donaire and Montiel tipped the scales at 118 pounds after being forced to reduce several pounds over the past couple of day
Donaire told the Inquirer he had to starve for the past two days in order to make the weight and was actually looking forward to winning and moving up to challenge any of the reigning super bantamweight champions including WBO champion Wilfredo Vasquez Jr.
At the weigh-in where a group of flag-waving Filipinos matched shouts and boos with an equally noisy band of Mexicans Donaire jumped up, flexed his muscles and let out a scream and lived up to what his nutritionist Victor Conte said was not the superman who pulverized former world champion Wladimir Sidorenko but "monster-man" with an increased muscle mass of 11 percent.
Donaire said the Philippine-Mexican rivalry "is good news for boxing. Me and Montiel are good friends but in the ring we bring out the best because we are proud of who we are and its healthy for boxing and brings the people to watch. Internationally the Mexicans are our biggest rivals."
After the weigh-in Donaire and his entourage which included his wife Rachael enjoyed a balanced meal of pasta and chicken said he is "having fun. I am ready as ever. I wanted this fight to happen so this time when he started showboating in front of me, my body heated up. I know I could not punch him or hit him so I just jumped up and yelled."
Donaire said they are both ready adding "he wants to knock me out and I want to knock him out. Its a good equation of a good fight. I will definitely have fun. I have that energy to fight, to do my best. Mentally, physically, spiritually its all there. Its just another day. I am not underestimating him but this is going to be another good day."
Comments
Share your thoughts on the above article by Ronnie Nathanielsz.