Nonito Donaire Jr. hopes to rock Big Apple

Photo by Marc Anthony Reyes

NEW YORK CITY—Nonito Donaire Jr., knows that Omar Narvaez carries an edge in fight experience. But he hopes it’s nothing that a dose of hardwork can’t remedy.

Dressed in a black ensemble apt for the autumn cold of the Big Apple, Donaire said Monday night that though he appears the overwhelming favorite in their title fight, he expects the Argentinian to fight like there’s no tomorrow.

“It is going to be his last hurrah. He is fighting the biggest fight of his career,” Donaire told the Inquirer at the lobby of the Affinia Manhattan, a trendy boutique hotel right across the Madison Square Garden.

The “Filipino Flash” is putting his WBC and WBO bantamweight titles on the line in their Oct. 22 fight slated at the Theater of the fabled sporting and arts venue in midtown Manhattan.

“He will come all out to represent Argentina and show the best he’s got. He has the edge in experience but I believe with the right mind and right game plan I will be able to take him out,” added Donaire.

But as important as it is for the unbeaten 36-year-old Narvaez (35-0-2 with 19 KOs), Donaire maintained that the fight “will be a statement” for him once he climbs up to 122 lbs starting next year.

“This is very very important for me because I have to win. All the time that’s my goal,” said Donaire. “I want to tell them (boxers at 122-lbs division) to watch out for me because I’m coming for them too. I have to make a good performance.”

He refused to lay down his cards, but the 28-year-old three-division champ, said he will base his game plan on how Narvaez executes his. “I can switch strategies depending on whether the guy is taller of shorter than me. But whatever I see, I will have to let him experience the power of my punch.”

Donaire, unbeaten in 10 years with a 26-1-0 record and 18 stoppages, faced opponents no taller than 5-foot-6 in his last six bouts. The tallest, Manuel Vargas at 5-foot-6, he finished off in the third round in Las Vegas in February of last year. He won via knockout in the past four fights including a title-clincher over Fernando Montiel.

He said he’s still five to seven pounds over the 118-lbs limit. “But I’m training tonight so I can cut down at least four or five pounds. That won’t be a problem for me.”

Donaire added he will be comfortable answering the opening bell 10 pounds heavier on Saturday (Sunday morning in Manila).

The eight-month layoff, an offshoot of his falling out with Top Rank which dragged him and Bob Arum to court, won’t be a major factor for him. “My confidence level is so high.”

For the fight, Donaire will wear black Everlast gloves with pink tips. That, and pink highlights on his socks and trunks, will be his contribution for the breast cancer awareness program sweeping the city. “If I don’t have anything to put on them (trunks) might as well help spread awareness.”

Donaire spent Monday talking to schoolchildren at the Jersey City Public Library in celebration of Filipino American History Month.

“It was a meet and greet at the same time. I told them my story and hardships I faced as boxer. It’s good opportunity to meet them and them meet a boxer like me because they rarely meet boxers in the East Coast anymore,” he said.

On Tuesday, he is scheduled to showcase his form in a media workout at Kingsway Gym on West 28th Street, before paying a visit at the Filipino consulate on 5th Ave on Wednesday.