Donaire faces tough test vs unbeaten foe

MANILA, Philippines - In what could be his toughest fight as a champion, Nonito Donaire Jr. faces unbeaten Raul Martinez today, hoping for a big hometown crowd to show up and cheer him on at the Araneta Coliseum.

Donaire, the reigning IBF flyweight champion from Bohol, puts the title he sensationally won against Vic Darchinyan in July of 2007 at stake against the Mexican-American who said he didn’t come here to lose.

“He’s undefeated. He’s strong. He’s young. He’s a great fighter. He’s heavy-handed. He’s no joke,” said Donaire, who almost ran out of words to describe his opponent, winner of all his 24 professional fights.

Donaire and Martinez have faced each other once, during their young, amateur days in the United States. The Filipino won that one on points, but even both fighters have a very vague idea of how it went.

After beating Darchinyan, Donaire knocked out Luis Maldonado in December of 2007, but spent 11 months looking for a fight until he crushed Moruti Mthalane last November for a 20-1-0 record.

Martinez was the busier fighter last year. He fought four times, and won them all, fighting as heavy as 117 lbs, and dropping down to 112 for this one. He considers himself the underdog against Donaire.

“I don’t have anything to lose. I’m supposed to lose because I’m the underdog. And people say he’s gonna knock me out and beat me so there’s no pressure. I’ll just surprise everybody,” he said.

Donaire weighed in yesterday at 111 1/2 lbs, barely a whisker off the 112 lb limit. Martinez tipped the scales smiling at exactly 112 lbs as the crowd watched at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel.

Donaire looked more serious during the weigh-in, entering the room at 10 a.m. and heading back out, towing his wife Rachel and two burly American bodyguards, when he learned it wasn’t his time yet.

Martinez came in bouncing in gray cargo shorts and shirt. He flaunted his biceps, his six-pack abs, and smiled non-stop before the cameras. He looked more relaxed.

Martinez was weighed first, and he stayed up on stage as Donaire took his turn. The boxer nicknamed “La Cobrita” stayed very close to the scales, looking on as the Filipino champion was weighed.

Except for Donaire’s two-inch height advantage (he stands 5’6”) the two fighters looked pretty dead even. They both enjoy a reach of 68 inches, are both orthodox. At 27, Martinez is 10 months older.

Brian Viloria, who will challenge Mexican Ulises Solis for the IBF light-fly crown, weighed in at exactly 108 lbs while his opponent, an executioner of Pinoy fighters, was at 107 1/2.

Win or lose, Donaire’s promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, said this would be his last fight at 112 lbs. They’re looking at the winner between Fernando Montiel and Erc Morel on June 27 as his next foe.

“This will be his last fight. I want Donaire to get into the mix with those guys. If he wins this fight that’s where he should land. There’s a lot of action in that class (115 lbs),” said Arum.

But the ageless promoter warned Donaire of being complacent.

“If he underrates Martinez then he’s making a big mistake. He has a tremendous punch although Donaire has a great punch, too. This is a very interesting fight,” Arum said.

He said the Solis-Viloria fight is a toss-up in that the Mexican is the best 108-pounder out there but the Filipino is fighting before his countrymen. Arum said it’s a must-win situation for Viloria.

“I agree that this could be his last chance. He has disappointed a lot of people for not living up to expectations they had about him. But it’s never too late. He’s got a real chance to win,” Arum said.

Viloria, winner of the silver medal in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, said it’s about time that a Filipino beats Solis, who has wins over Rodel Mayol, Bert Batawang and Glenn Donaire (Nonito’s brother).

“One thing about streaks is that it comes to an end. Sunday might be the day. I will give my all,” said Viloria, winner of his last five fights, but still in search of a big win that would put him back on top.