Iginiit ni four-division world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. na hindi lamang siya muling magiging kampeon pandaigdig kundi magiging No. 1 pa sa super bantamweight division para muling makapasok sa pound-for-pound ratings.
Sa panayam ni Steve Carp ng Las Vegas Review-Journal, inamin ni Donaire na malaki ang ipinagbago niya matapos makalasap ng dalawang pagkatalo kina Guillermo Rigondeaux ng Cuba na umagaw sa kanyang WBO super bantamweight crown at Jamaican Nicholas Walters na sumikwat ng hawak niyang WBA featherweight crown.
“My goal is to get back on top. I am refocused for what I must do in the ring. That’s why this fight in Puerto Rico is so important for me and my boxing career. I am reading a book called The Power of Habits,” ani Donaire. “It is about getting rid of bad habits and instead using good habits each and every day. It all restarts for me on December 11.”
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Anumang araw, magdedesisyon ang WBO sa apela ni dating super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux ng Cuba para maibalik sa kanya ang kampeonato pero kung negatibo ang resulta ay tiyak na paglalabanan ni Donaire ng Pilipinas at Cesar Juarez ng Mexico ang bakanteng titulo sa Disyembre 11 sa Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Aminado si Donaire na napabayaan niya ang kanyang estilo dahil sobrang nagkumpiyansa sa kanyang sarili.
“I was knocking guys out so easily and it was like, ‘Why work 100 percent when I could do it at 10 percent?’ Then I started fighting better, smarter opponents and after the Rigondeaux fight, I started to ask myself if I should keep fighting,” diin ng boksingero.’ “But it’s funny, after I got knocked out by Walters, it was more about who I was and how I needed to change. It was about being fulfilled.”
Muli niyang kinuha bilang trainer ang kanyang amang si Nonito Donaire Sr. kaya naibalik ang estilo niyang uhaw sa panalo.
“I don’t take anything for granted anymore. Every day is a blessing. I don’t want to waste time. I want to go beyond what I can do and not settle for being satisfied with what I’ve done,” diin ni Donaire. “My dad created my style; he’s the only one who can change me. He knows me inside-out.”
Nangako ang four-division world champion na ibang Donaire ang kakasa kay Juarez sa Disyembre 11.
“You’re going to see a smarter fighter, someone who will dissect his opponent and take advantage of his mistakes,” dagdag ni Donaire. “I’m going to be like an eagle ready to pounce on his prey.” (GILBERT ESPENA)
