MANILA, Philippines—Even Nonito Donaire Jr. has something to say about the raging drama between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
NEW YORK - OCTOBER 22: Nonito Donaire of the Philippines celebrates defeating Omar Narvaez of Argentina and defending his WBC, WBO World Bantamweight Titles at Madison Square Garden on October 22, 2011 in New York City. Chris Trotman/Getty Images/AFP
The Filipino Flash, whose own Feb. 4 superbantanweight fight against Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. is overshadowed by the so-called mother of all superfights, commended Mayweather for getting everybody interested in the fight which he himself swore to watch.
“I think Floyd’s a very smart guy and he knows how to strategize,” Donaire told the Las Vegas Boxing Examiner. “I think that’s one of his strategies, going in and trying to get the fight. And if it does, everybody’s going to be scrambling while at the same time he’s driving the car. What Floyd is doing is just another ploy, another thing he does to get in people’s heads.”
He was referring to the charge of taunting remarks Mayweather put out via his personal Twitter account, asking Pacman to “give the world what they want.”
But Donaire said Mayweather is making sure the fight happens on his terms.
“He knows how to get people by using words that are negative, to get their attention. And people with pride on both sides, they’re going to retaliate in their own way. It’s just Floyd being Floyd,” he told the examiner.com.
Donaire is in the heat of training for his debut at 122 lb, no less than a WBO title bout at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
The soft-spoken 29-year-old from Bohol said he himself is excited to see the fight materialize but expressed doubts if it can happen with just a few weeks of preparation.
“But that’s a fight that it’s going to be hard to make within a few weeks, a few months,” said Donaire of the dream match which according to Top Rank’s Bob Arum may happen late May in time for a 45,000-seater outdoor stadium to be built on Vegas strip.
Donaire also defended Arum from criticism that the premier promoter is delaying the fight, saying it depends also on the willingness of both fighters where and when to square off.
“They’re both superstars, and it’s not like they don’t have a voice,” Donaire continued. “Guys like Manny and Mayweather, they can make it happen… people will buy it.”