Donaire zeroes in on ‘The Jackal’

MANILA, Philippines — Former IBF/IBO flyweight, interim WBA superflyweight, WBC/WBO bantamweight, IBF/WBO superbantamweight and WBA featherweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. said yesterday he’s ready to fight former IBF/WBA superbantamweight and WBA featherweight titlist Carl (The Jackal) Frampton anytime, anywhere in what will be an “incredible” showdown.

“I’m calling Frampton out,” said Donaire in an overseas telephone call from his Las Vegas home. “I’m looking forward to an exciting fight. From what I know, talks are going on to make it happen. I’ll fight him in his hometown of Belfast if that’s what he wants.”

Donaire said he had planned to start sparring this week but held back to wait for the confirmation of the Frampton fight. “If it happens three or four months from now, I’ll be over-trained if I begin sparring this week,” he said. “I’ll give myself 2 1/2 months to train for Frampton. Once everything is finalized, I’ll plan where to train. I could train in Manila or Tokyo. If Freddie (Roach) can bring in good sparring partners, I could train at Wild Card in L. A. I would’ve liked to fight for the world title but it looks like everyone’s occupied. Leo Santa Cruz is in talks with Abner Mares and Lee Selby is defending his IBF title on Dec. 9. Oscar Valdez is booked in March and I’m not sure about Gary Russell. But you know me, I’m ready for anyone. I’ll fight whomever Ringstar puts in front of me.”

Donaire said he’s walking around at 135 pounds. “It’s no problem to go down to 126,” he said. “I may be smaller than most featherweights but my power is stronger than any of those guys and I’m a lot more experienced. I’m comfortable at featherweight. At the moment, I’m doing gym work to build up muscle to get stronger. There are big fights in this division and I’m excited to match up against the best featherweights in the world.”

Frampton, 30, is fresh from scoring a unanimous 10-round decision over Mexico’s Horacio Garcia in Belfast last Nov. 18. The Jackal took a mandatory eight-count in the seventh after he went down from a glancing blow. It looked like Frampton had slipped and Garcia clipped him as he fell. But there was no doubt Frampton was the better man in the end. The win raised his record to 24-1, with 14 KOs. His only loss was a majority decision to Santa Cruz in Las Vegas early this year. Frampton had previously beaten Santa Cruz by a split verdict.

A rough-house brawler, Frampton took only five rounds to dispose of Chris Avalos and two to stop former WBA superflyweight champion Hugo Cazares. He beat former IBF superbantamweight champion Kiko Martinez of Spain twice. Last year, he broke Roach protege Scott Quigg’s jaw in the fourth round on the way to a win on points. 

Donaire, 35, hasn’t fought since outpointing Mexico’s Ruben Garcia to win the WBC Silver featherweight crown in San Antonio last September. It was his first fight under new promoter Ringstar Sports whose head is former Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer. Donaire’s record is 38-4, with 24 KOs.

Donaire said there were attempts to set up a Frampton fight in the past. “Now, no obstacles are in the way,” he said. “I have the greatest respect for Frampton as a fighter. I’ll face him wherever he wants the fight to be.”