Training pa lang bigay-todo na, lalo na sa laban

Katulad ng kanyang mga nakaraang laban, lahat ng kanyang lakas at konsentrasyon ay ibinubuhos na ni world flyweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire, Jr. sa training pa lang.  

 “I’m training as hard as I can and I want to give it all I got. I still have that hunger,” ani Donaire, nakatakdang magdepensa ng kanyang suot na International Boxing Federation (IBF) at International Boxing Organization (IBO) flyweight belts laban kay South African challenger Moruti Mthalane bukas (Manila time) sa Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino sa Las Vegas, Nevada. 

Ito ang ikalawang sunod na pagkakataon na magdedepensa ng kanyang IBF at IBO flyweight titles ang 25-anyos na si Donaire matapos umiskor ng isang eight-round TKO kay Mexican challenger Luis Maldonado noong Disyembre 1.

Sa kabila ng pagiging ‘underdog” ni Mthalane, hindi pa rin ito dahilan para maging kumpiyansa si Donaire. 

“I’m not taking Moruti Mthalane lightly. This is my title that I’m fighting for. I’m the champ, and thinking about it any other way would just be bringing my mentality down. I really feel that I own this title,” sabi ni Donaire.

 Tangan ni Donaire ang 19-1 win-loss ring record kasama ang 12 KOs, samantalang ibinabandera naman ni Mthalane 22-1 (15 KOs) slate.

 Sakaling maging matagumpay ang kanyang title defense kay Mthalane, sinabi ni Donaire na balak naman niyang umakyat sa super flyweight division na kinalalagyan ngayon ni Armenian Vic Darchinyan, ang inagawan niya ng IBF at IBO flyweight belts via fifth round TKO noong Hulyo 7 ng 2007, at Mexican Jorge Arce.  

 “Right now I have a guy in front of me who’s trying to take my belt, who’s trying to take away everything that I have. And that’s the one thing that I’ll focus on,” ani Donaire. “There could be fights with Arce and Darchinyan down the road but the guy in front of me is the main person that I’m focusing on right now.” (Russell Cadayona)