Donaire vows to unveil a new Nonito in Pinoy Pride 30 card

Five division world champion and former WBA featherweight king Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. has vowed to bring back his old fearsome form when he co-headlines Pinoy Pride 30 on March 28.

The fight will be Donaire’s (33-3, 21KOs) comeback following his devastating sixth round TKO loss to Jamaica’s Nicolas Walters last October in California.

Donaire Jr. is set to fight Brazilian William Prado (22-4-1, 15KOs) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum for the vacant WBC NABF super bantamweight title said fight fans will see a new Nonito Donaire.

Donaire arrived in Cebu last Monday to train at the famed ALA Boxing Gym for two weeks.

“Sa tanan boxing fans motan-aw sa fight, expect mo ug new Nonito Donaire nga mas youthful ug bag-o na ang style,” he said. “Ako na gi tangtang ang mga bad habits nako sa una kay mao to nakapa bun-og nako, karon ako na usbon akong style. Di nako pareho sa una nga magpa igo aron makaigo pud. Ako nang gamiton akong utok ug kusog para mahimo nakong complete fighter.”

Donaire Jr. was accompanied by his father and trainer during yesterday’s press conference of Pinoy Pride 30: D-Day at the Rajah Park Hotel.

The press conference was headed by ALA Promotions International CEO Michael Aldeguer, two division world champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, IBF Intercontinental junior featherweight champion Albert “Prince” Pagara and trainer Edmundo Villamor.

Nietes who is the longest reigning Filipino boxing world champion is set to defend his WBO Light flyweight title against Mexican Gilberto Parra in the main event. (See separate story on this page).

WHY HE LOST TO WALTERS

Donaire Jr. said that the reason why he lost that winnable fight against Walters was his failure to listen to his corner aside from lacking in training.

“Wala man ko naminaw sa akong corner mao tong naka himo ug problema. It was a matter of time na lang nga matumba nako siya pero reckless man kaayo ko. Sa kani nga fight lahi na akong mentality lahi na nga Nonito Donaire inyong makita,” he added.

He also assured his fans that despite the changes  in style, he would still be the same exciting and tenacious fighter that his fans have known him to be.

“Dili maapektuhan ang excitement kay ma timingan sila sa akong kumo sigurado man jud matumba sila. Mas careful and technical na ko karon,” Donaire Jr. said.

He also bared that he wants to reconquer the 122lbs division before going back to the featherweight division and bared that he is also willing to have a rematch against WBO and WBA super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux and Walters and vowed to win if indeed a rematch will happen against the two fighters who dealt his last two losses.

MOTIVATED BY FAMILY

Donaire said that it’s no longer hunger that drives him to train hard and win on March 28 but his family.

“Hunger is not enough to push me to win. I need motivation and I found it in my family who is my strength. I will use my hunger to win and to beat the elite,” he added.

PP30 will be Donaire’s second time to fight in Manila. He last fought in Manila on 2009 where he won the IBF and IBO world flyweight titles against Raul Martinez.n Manila. He last fought in Manila on 2009 where he won the IBF and IBO world flyweight titles against Raul Martinez.