MANILA, Philippines - Bilang paghahanda sa kanyang pag-akyat sa super bantamweight division, makakasabayan ni Nonito ‘The Filipino Flash’ Donaire, Jr. ang mas malalaki sa kanyang sparmates.
Sinabi ni Mexican trainer Robert Garcia na kinuha niya ang malalaking sina Mexican lightweight Javier Garcia at Russian featherweight Evgeny Gradovich para makalaban ni Donaire sa training camp.
“Before we would use guys at the same weight class as Nonito, but he takes their shots so well,” sabi kahapon ni Garcia. “I think he should get used to bigger guys hitting him, so he’ll be sparring them for now.”
Nakatakdang labanan ni Donaire, may 27-1-0 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 18 KOs, si Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr. (21-1-1, 18 KOs) para sa bakanteng World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight title sa Pebrero 4, 2012.
Nagmula si Donaire sa isang unanimous decision win laban kay Omar Narvaez noong Oktubre 22 sa Madison Square Garden sa New York City para sa pagdedepensa sa mga suot niyang World Boxing Council (WBC) at World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight titles.
Pinabagsak ni Donaire si Fernando Montiel sa second round para agawin sa Mexican ang mga hawak nitong WBC at WBO bantamweight belts noong Pebrero 19.
Ayon kay Garcia, napanood na niya ang mga laban ni Vazquez at mayroon na siyang ideya para sa kanilang magiging estratehiya ni Donaire.
“I’ve watched a couple of fights, like the with (Jorge) Arce, but you have to take it for what it is, which was a fun fight for the fans,” wika ni Garcia. “We’re working on a gameplan to prepare for the best Vazquez that will show up, because that’s what we expect.”
Nauna nang nakuha ng 28-anyos na tubong Talibon, Bohol ang International Boxing Federation (IBF) at International Boxing Organization (IBO) flyweight belts kay Vic Darchinyan ng Armenia mula sa kanyang one-punch, fifth round knockout noong Hulyo 7, 2007.
Ito ay nahirang ng Ring Magazine bilang “Knockout of the Year” at “Upset of the Year” noong Disyembre 23, 2007.