Nonito Donaire shadow boxes in the ring during an open media workout on October 15, 2014 in Santa Monica, California. Alexis Cuarezma/Getty Images/AFP
SANTA MONICA, California—While Nicolas Walters respects and follows the long, sterling career of Nonito Donaire Jr., the Jamaican featherweight world champion said he needs to put the “Filipino Flash” away.
“Actually I’ve been watching his career. I watched a number of his fights beginning in the lower weights,” said Walters during a break from his workout for the media in the backlot of 201 Boxing Gym here. “I know he’s a good fighter and he’s had some good fights, I won’t take that away from him.
“But it is my time now. He’s in my way. I’ve got to move him out of the way so I can advance.”
The unbeaten Walters face Donaire in a unification clash for the WBA featherweight title on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at StubHub Center in Carson.
Walters (24-0-0 with 20 KOs) said he would knock out Donaire (33-2-0 with 21 KOs).
“I can knock him out in less than five,” said the fighter dubbed as the Axe-Man, who has stopped 10 of his last 11 opponents.
“Every boxer can be knocked out, you just have to find a way. Maybe on Saturday I can find a way, so let’s see,” he added.
Walters took his turn at the media workout one full hour before Donaire arrived.
Donaire’s former head trainer Robert Garcia later said that the fight is going to be “very dangerous” for Donaire.
But the 2012 Trainer of the Year who will still be in Donaire’s corner on fight night qualified his statement by saying: “Nonito is very quick and he could adjust. He has a tremendous left hook. Maybe in the latter rounds, if Walters is in good shape and if the fight goes to the later rounds, maybe that should give Nonito some problem. But I don’t see that happening.
Told of Walters’ boast, Donaire’s trainer father Nonito Sr. said: “It’s good because he’s bound to put down his defenses trying to chase Jun. In boxing you can’t rely on power alone. You also have to think. And Nonito is an intelligent fighter. But if push comes to shove, we have what it takes to slug it out from Round 1 to 12.”