Nonito Donaire (left) and Jessie Magdaleno are flanked by Top Rank knockout girls on the undercard press conference Thursday. Photo by Roy Luarca/INQUIRER
LAS VEGAS—When Nonito Donaire Jr. approached the podium, members of the media expected him to counter Jessie Magdaleno’s incessant ramblings with venomous words.
Instead, Donaire did a brief haka, the traditional war cry, dance of the Maoris of New Zealand.
“Team, I claim victory,” hollered Donaire while pointing a finger at Magdaleno, who sported a newly-dyed blonde hair.
Donaire, a five-division world champion, later explained that the haka encapsulates his feelings on his defense of the WBO junior featherweight title against Magdaleno on Nov. 5.
“My hands will do the talking,” said Donaire (37-3, 24 KOs), Fighter of the Year in 2012.
So unlike Magdaleno who seizes every opportunity to call Donaire an aging, fading champion.
Though nine years younger at 24 with a clean 23-0 slate laden with 17 knockouts, Magdaleno said he treats every opponent the same.
“We’re both heavy hitters so I don’t expect it to go the distance,” said Magdaleno. “A right hook could be the key punch followed by other punches.”
Neither does Donaire, who thinks Magdaleno isn’t among the Big Leaguers yet.