Donaire says he’s ready to go

MANILA, Philippines - Former IBF/IBO flyweight, interim WBA superflyweight, WBO/WBC bantamweight, IBF/WBO superbantamweight and WBA featherweight champion Nonito Donaire, Jr. said the other day he’s pumped up and ready to battle Mexico’s Cesar Juarez in a 12-round bout for the vacant WBO 122-pound crown at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Dec. 11 with the goal of ending his absence from the throne.

Donaire, 33, hasn’t worn a championship belt since losing his WBA featherweight diadem to Nicholas Walters on a sixth round stoppage in Carson City, California, in October 2014. It’s been over a year that the Filipino Flash hasn’t claimed a title and he’s not used to being just a contender. Donaire won his first world crown in 2007 and he’s added three more to his collection, excluding the interim recognition from the WBA as a superflyweight.

Donaire didn’t expect to get a chance to win another title this year. But Cuba’s Guillermo Rigondeaux was stripped of his WBO belt because of inactivity. Donaire’s fight against Juarez was supposed to be a title eliminator. It’s now been upgraded to a clash for the vacant title. Juarez, 24, is ranked No. 1 and Donaire, No. 2.

“Right now, I weigh between 131 to 135 pounds and I wake up at 133,” Donaire told The Star in an telephone interview from his Las Vegas home. “I’m 10 to 11 pounds over the limit but I haven’t even started to diet. Making weight is no problem at all. I know my body. I don’t want to make weight too early. I want to peak right about the week of the fight. If you ask me, I’m ready to go.”

Donaire said he’s busy training with father Nonito Sr. at the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas. His sparmates are lightweight Fred Bowen of Jackson, Tennessee and superfeatherweight Fidel Navarrete of Highland, Indiana. Bowen, 27, has a 5-2-1 record with 2 KOs while Navarrete, 24, totes an 8-1-2 mark, with 4 KOs.

“I just did 11 rounds of sparring and I could’ve done 12 or more but I’m not pushing it,” said Donaire. “When the time comes, I’ll go 12 rounds. That’s when the fight’s around the corner. I’ve learned from experience that you need to pace yourself so when the fight comes, you won’t run out of gas. Both Fred and Fidel resemble Juarez’ style. They put enormous pressure on me and that’s how I like it. I’m very confident of my stamina.”

Donaire said he expects a slam-bang fight because Juarez isn’t the type to back off. “I don’t really know if he can take my punches but I’m sure he won’t see where my punches will be coming from and that’s when he’ll get into trouble,” he continued. “It’s when you get hit with punches you don’t see that you get hurt. He’s a tough guy and he’ll come to fight. He’ll want to force a fight. Juarez is a non-stop guy who’s all about pressure. He’ll be in your face from the first bell as much as possible. He’s not afraid of engaging and I think that’s the only way he can try to beat him. He won’t run.”

Donaire said Juarez reminds him of Mexico’s Oscar Andrade whom he outpointed in Las Vegas in 2006. “Andrade was the first fighter to cut me,” said Donaire. “He just kept coming in. He wasn’t an easy opponent and I expect Juarez won’t be an easy opponent either.”

Donaire said he’ll do whatever it takes to beat Juarez and take the WBO title. “I’m a boxer-puncher, a counterpuncher, whatever I have to be,” he said. “I’ll seize every opportunity to win Definitely, I’ll fight with more intelligence. Since I got back with my dad, it’s been like old times. I’m back doing the things that brought me to my first world title. I’m jabbing, moving and working hard. My dad reminds me of how things were. He was with me at the start and we’re together again to win another world title. Working with my dad is a blessing and training for Juarez has been great.”

Juarez was only nine years old when Donaire turned pro in 2001 with a first round knockout over Jose Lazaro in Inglewood, California. He has compiled a record of 17-3, with 13 KOs. None of his losses was by knockout. His three defeats were to Edgar Lozano by disqualification in 2011, to Jorge Lara on points a year later and to Hugo Partida by majority decision in 2013

Juarez is coming off four wins in a row. Last July, he decisioned Juan Carlos Sanchez to take the vacant WBO International superbantamweight crown in Mexico. The victory reaffirmed Juarez’ ranking as the No. 1 contender. Although he’s never been knocked out, Juarez has been decked. Against Lozano, he was down in rounds 2 and 3 before his disqualification for a rabbit punch while his opponent was on the canvas after a slip. Against Lara, Juarez was floored thrice, twice in the first round, but survived to finish the fight on his feet only to lose a decision.