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Donaire determined to win fifth world title with his dad in his corner

Four division world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire is determined to win a fifth world title with his father/trainer Nonito “Dodong” Donaire Sr. in his corner when he battles WBA featherweight champion Simpiwe Vetyeka of South Africa at the classy Cotai Arena inside The Venetian Resort Hotel and Casino in Macau on May 31.

The 31 year old Donaire has a record of 32 wins against two losses with 21 knockouts while the 33 year old Vetyeka has a record of 26 wins, 16 by knockout, with two losses.

Donaire provided us an indication of his serious intentions when after a television interview for an ABS-CBN pre-fight special at the sprawling Elorde Gym at the Home Depot in Ortigas for which he arrived one hour ahead of schedule. Donaire began his first workout in the sweltering heat, telling us he plans to use every opportunity to train before his father arrives on April 12 to officially begin their training camp at the Elorde Gym along Sucat Road in Paranaque.

Considering he currently weighs around 145-147 pounds because of his feasting on local food like chicharon bulaklak and crispy pata, Donaire looked surprisingly quick while shadow boxing and ripping into the heavy bag where he showed tremendous power as he threw rapid-fire combinations with malicious intent.

Donaire would tell Yahoo Philippines during an interview at the gym on Sunday morning that the fight against Vetyeka “will never be easy because he is a world champion for a reason and its going to be a very important fight which will mark the fifth division I am fighting in and on top of that its a world championship.”



In his assessment, Vetyeka is “a really good fighter. I think he’s the toughest of all the guys in the (featherweight) division. He is slick, has power, and he’s pretty good.”

Boxing writer Tim Starks described the Donaire-Vetyeka clash as “a solid match-up. Donaire, as usual, has all the physical advantages but Vetyeka is a rough and tumble, authentic 126 pounder and it’s not clear whether Donaire is authentic at that weight.”

Donaire spelled out the extra motivation for a win over Vetyeka. He belies it would enhance the possibility of a unification title fight against WBA champion Nicholas Walters of Jamaica or the “Russian-Mexican” and IBF champion Evgeny Gradovich.

Both Walters and Gradovich will be facing separate opponents on the same card as Donaire-Vetyeka. To Donaire “there is definitely a possibility of the winners meeting and that is why they are putting all the featherweights in this card.”

It makes no difference who he fights. He emphasized “You know me, I seek to fight everyone and always want to unify (the titles) because I believe there should only be one champion. That’s the goal.”

While he used to train in the Philippines early in his career when nobody really knew him, it’s a whole different situation today. His spectacular winning streak in 2012 which earned him the accolade of “Fighter of the Year” and put him in the top five ranked fighters in the prestigious Ring Magazine pound-for-pound roster have made him the most recognizable and celebrated fighter next to eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao.

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Since the Vetyeka fight will be in nearby Macau, Donaire decided to train in Manila which will also give him a chance to interact with fans and strengthen his ties with them.

Donaire is looking forward to his training camp and was sure “my spirits will be lifted when I train at the Elorde Gym with all the fans having a chance to watch me workout.”

“The Filipino Flash” flashed a wide grin and told us  “I am really happy because I finally get to train here at this level.  It’s so much easier here besides there are so many good sparring partners. The whole training camp package is complete.”

The most encouraging aspect that has been warmly welcomed by both fight fans and ordinary Filipinos is Donaire’s renewed ties with his dad after an unfortunate misunderstanding in the past.

With their family ties firmly rooted on both sides, Donaire acknowledged that his “really good fights” were when his father was his trainer.



He conceded that with his new and firmly established relationship with Donaire Sr., “there’s more for me to listen to him rather than other people. He is the one who helped me to be who I am and the one that started me from the very beginning.”

The fundamental strength of his dad is that he knows what his son can do and what he cannot do. Donaire revealed in his interview with Yahoo Philippines “He (Donaire Sr.)  knows everything about me, every little detail. If I feel lazy he knows and that’s the best thing about being with my dad now that we are one again.”

In terms of training, Donaire acknowledged that for many of his past fights he never reviewed or studied tapes of his opponents unlike his dad who “studies tapes and breaks them down. That’s definitely true. He has the eye to study, the eye of knowing what to do and to give the right instructions.”

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Donaire doesn’t mind changing his mindset and watching tapes of Vetyeka along with his father/trainer . He said “we are very excited because he (Donaire Sr.) will make me watch those fights of Vetyeka. In fact, Donaire Sr. told us he had tapes of Vetyeka’s fights when he won the title from Chris John in Metro City, Perth, Western Australia and a previous fight with another Indonesian Daud Yordan.

While Donaire is convinced he has “the advantage in speed and power,” he admits Vetyeka will be “difficult  because of his awkwardness” adding that “when you put speed and power together I should be alright. But again we don’t want to look like everything’s going to be okay because it was said in the media that I am the underdog. I’m not upset. I like that.”

His eating habits have seen him blow up into a welterweight right now. He said “a little bit more of chicharon bulaklak and crispy pata of course will make me a heavyweight. But it all stops when my Dad arrives. He’ll crack the whip and straighten me out.”

The biggest and most satisfying aspect of Donaire’s life today is his closely-knit family, which, in his mind, adds a new dimension to his career.

Donaire knows what he wants. He made it clear “I want to build something for them” meaning wife Rachel and his son Jarel who is an amazing kid. He told us “I am much more motivated right now. I know where I will be in boxing – my desire in boxing. I want to make it happen with my family. I am excited now because I finally found my answers.”

While there has been concern after Donaire hurt and bloodied his hands in his title fight with Wilfredo Vazquez Jr., hurt his shoulder in his losing battle with WBA champion Guillermo Rigondeaux and had his cheekbone busted in his rematch with Darchinyan, Donaire admitted that while his hand “always hurts now because of the wear and tear throughout several fights,  pain doesn’t concern me. Even if my face is rearranged I realize this is what I want to do.”

Asked whether he would wish to inflict pain on Vetyeka, Donaire laughed and said “I’d rather inflict darkness and blackness on Vetyeka and put him to bed.”