Hussein: Next Donaire foe?
Australian brawler Hussein Hussein could be IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire’s next challenger, it was learned from a reliable source the other day. And if the fighter of Lebanese descent is the chosen one, Donaire said he’ll double his efforts to score a win more impressive than his knockouts over Vic Darchinyan and Luis Maldonado.
No date or site has been discussed for the bout but a source said Donaire’s
Donaire, 25, won the IBF title via a fifth round knockout over Darchinyan, an Australian transplant like Hussein, last July. Early this month, he halted Maldonado in the eighth round of a bloody slugfest to mark his first title defense in
Shaw is expected in
“I saw Hussein’s two fights against (Jorge) Arce and they were brutal wars,” said Donaire. “Hussein’s a tough guy. He cut up Arce’s nose in their first fight like it was sliced by a knife. I anticipate a great fight against Hussein because he doesn’t back down. He comes to fight just like me. I don’t think he can match my speed and power.”
Donaire said he was only at 70 percent capacity in the Maldonado fight but promised to be 100 percent for his next outing.
“I didn’t know about the Maldonado fight until a little over a month before when I was in
Donaire said he willed himself to beat Maldonado because “it was either him or me and I couldn’t lose.”
“I was told to take a flight on five hours notice from
Hussein, 32, has compiled a 31-4 record, with 24
Hussein has never lost to a Filipino, victimizing Federico Catubay (KO3), Silvio Glinogo (KO2), Max Barro (KO8) and Dianever Orcales (W8). He has lost only to Arce twice, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam in a WBC title bout and Hiroyuki Hisataka on points in his latest outing in
Donaire said he couldn’t care less who his next opponent is.
“I’m a fighter,” he continued. “I’ll fight whomever my manager (Cameron Dunkin) and promoter (Shaw) put in front of me. I don’t choose my opponents. My preference is to unify the flyweight title against either of the two Japanese champions. If I have to fight in
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