Nonito Donaire Jr., holder of two of the four world super bantamweight belts, has started his training camp in preparation for his title fight against a fighter who, by his own account, can end a fight with a single punch.
Donaire likened his next opponent, revered Japanese boxer and The Ring’s No. 1 super featherweight Toshiaki Nishioka, to previous foes Vic Darchinyan and Fernando Montiel, who both have knockout power in their fists.
Incidentally, Donaire felled both Darchinyan and Montiel in spectacular fashion in 2007 and 2011, respectively.
“It’s fighting the best,” Donaire told RingTV, comparing the 36-year-old Nishioka (39-4-3 with 24 KOs). “He has a tremendous straight punch; I have tremendous left hook. He is a speed king and I’m the Filipino Flash.”
He said their Oct. 13 fight at Home Deport in Carson, California, where he will put his WBO and IBF belts on the line, will be decided by his “having the best game plan, having the right timing and capitalizing on mistakes.”
Donaire went back to training at Undisputed Gym in San Carlos after a month-long layoff following his unanimous decision win over Jeffrey Mathebula of South Africa early last month.
Nishioka last fought in October last year, then gave up his WBC belt that eventually went to Abner Mares following a win over Eric Morel in April.
Donaire said this time he’s facing an opponent that won’t back off the way Omar Narvaez did last year, and to lesser extent, Mathebula.
“The problem is guys who ran,” said Donaire. “Darchinyan and Montiel came to fight. If we can make the fights happen with the best fighters out there, that’s what we wanna do. The risk is high but that’s what makes me better, putting myself at risk.”