Tinanggihan ni five-division world champion Nonito Donaire Jr. ang alok ni Top Rank big boss Bob Arum na biglang umakyat ng timbang para hamunin sa Marso si undefeated World Boxing Organization (WBO) featherweight champion Oscar Valdez ng Mexico.
Sa panayam ni boxing writer Carlos Boogs ng BoxingScene.com, aminado si Donaire na mahihirapan ang kanyang katawan na kaagad umakyat ng timbang sa edad niyang 34 kaya posibleng magsagawa muna siya ng tune-up fight sa 126 pounds division bago kumasa sa natural featherweight na si Valdez.
Natalo nitong Nobyembre 5 si Donaire kontra Jessie Magdaleno sa 12-round unanimous decision sa Thomas & Mack Center sa Las Vegas, Nevada kaya nahablot ng Amerikano ang kanyang korona sa 122 pounds o super bantamweight division ng WBO.
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“I have heard about Valdez being offered as my next fight mid March at 126. While I am grateful for the opportunity given to me by Top Rank and humbled they would give me the chance to fight for another title shot, I also believe I would be redoing the same mistake I did when I initially moved up to 126 in 2014,” sabi ni Donaire.
“126 at first to me was a reason not to have to cut weight. But what I soon learned the hard way was most of the 126 fighters walk near 140 fight night. I have been walking around 132/133 most days and I’m not even in camp,” sabi pa nito.
“Knowing my mistake before and acknowledging I wasn’t a solid muscle 126, I believe it’s in my best interest to take a tune up 126 fight in May, because March is only 2 months away and too soon to gradually build the correct muscle weight - and if comfortable with the muscle weight, fight Valdez in the fall,” diin ni Donaire. “And once I fight and gain muscle properly at 126, I’m not going to come back to 122 to fight anybody. If that is not possible, 122 is still comfortable for me to make and I’m positive Top Rank has an array of options for me to fight if Magdaleno so chooses not to give me the rematch for whatever his reason.”
Idinagdag ni Donaire na susundin niya ang payo ng kanyang amang si Nonito Donaire Sr. na huwag agad-agad lumaban kay Valdez para hindi maulit ang kanyang pagkatalo via 6th round TKO kay Nicholas Walters na umagaw ng kanyang WBA featherweight crown noong 2014 sa Carson, California.
“I have to remember coming all the way from 112, I have built more muscle to move up in weight. My body from 112 was small and as I moved up I built a more muscular frame. But huge thanks to my team, manager, family, and fans who were honest with me telling me I need to build my body correctly,” ani Donaire. “The fighter in me would take the fight even at 130. And when I think crazy thoughts like that, it’s a blessing to know I have those in my corner to tell me how to do my weight gain properly this time.” (Gilbert Espeña)
