Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank
CEBU CITY—Nonito Donaire Jr. hopes to use a “bullet” against Zsolt Bedak when they dispute the World Boxing Organization super bantamweight crown at Cebu City Sports Center Saturday.
“Never in my (ring) career [have] I felt his good,” said Donaire. “If before I come to fight at 70 percent, now it’s 110 percent.”
It will be a battle of fighters boasting mean left hooks, but Donaire (36-2, 23 knockouts) feels his packs a lot more wallop.
“Parang may bala ang left hook ko (My left hook contains a bullet),” said Donaire, confident of victory that could give him a crack at super bantamweight champion Carl Frampton or a grudge rematch with 2013 tormentor Rigondeaux.
After squeezing through yesterday’s weigh-in at 121.75 pounds, Donaire told Manila-based sportswriters that he felt amazing and won’t hesitate to go for the knockout if the opportunity comes.
Bedak checked in slightly lighter at 121.5.
The five-division world champion known as The Filipino Flash said he felt during their staredown that the Hungarian challenger got a bit intimidated by his size and, perhaps, stature.
Not only was Donaire two inches taller at 5-foot-6, the California-based pride of Talibon, Bohol, also owns better credentials as far as quality of opponents (Vic Darchinyan, Nicholas Walters, Rigondeaux) is concerned.
“I overwhelmed him with my energy and intensity,” said Donaire. “It was like I swallowed him up.”
Donaire, however, said he’s not underestimating Bedak (25-1, 8 KOs).