Boxer Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire, the WBO junior featherweight champion and 2012 Fighter of the Year, smiles during a news conference in New York, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013, announcing his championship unification bout against Guillermo “El Chacal” Rigondeaux, of Cuba, the undefeated WBA super bantamweight champion on and two-time Olympic gold medallists. The pair will square off April 13, 2013, at Radio City Music Hall. This is only the second time Radio City has hosted professional boxing in it’s 82-year history. The first was a light heavyweight championship fight between Roy Jones Jr. and David Telesco on Jan. 15, 2000. AP
HOLLYWOOD—Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. used to trade punches with opponents with wild abandon.
After all, he wields a killer left hook that can tilt the outcome in his favor anytime.
Against unbeaten Jessie Magdaleno (23-0, 17 knockouts) on Nov. 5, however, Donaire (37-3, 24 KOs) promises a different approach in their battle for his World Boxing Organization super-bantamweight crown.
The five-division champion said he’ll fight cautiously and wisely, the way a five-division world champion, who’s turning 34 in two weeks, should.
“I’ll use control in this fight,” Donaire said in an interview with ABS-CBN North America. “I’ll control myself, my stamina, my power. In the past it was for the kill. He’ll get me, I’ll get him, whoever strikes first, that was my old strategy. This time I know what to do.”
Donaire was referring to the training and knowledge he acquired from Cuban trainer Ismael Salas, who took over from his father and namesake, for the bout serving as top undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas headliner.