Reigning and defending WBC Silver Featherweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire is currently preparing for the highly-anticipated showdown with Carl Frampton (MBE) inside SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland on April 21.
Frampton is a decorated former champion in two different weight classes. The high-profile encounter inside the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland between the prolific Filipino boxing superstar and beloved hometown hero Frampton airs live and exclusive on BT Sport on April 21.
Donaire, who hails from Talibon, Philippines, is a multiple-time World Champion in four different weight classes and is currently ranked as the fourth overall Super Banthamweight boxer in the world by the Transnational Boxing Rankings board.
WBC Silver Featherweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire throughout the course of his illustrious career in Professional Boxing has been officially named “Yahoo! Sports Fighter of the Year”, “Sports Ilustrated Fighter of the Year”, “The Ring Fighter of the Year”, “ESPN Fighter of the Year”, “Boxing Writers Association of America Fighter of the Year”, coupled alongside being immortalized on The Philippines Eastwood City Walk of Fame and also being subject of the critically acclaimed ABS-CBS feature “Flash Forward: Nonito Donaire Jr”.
Dean Perreta caught up with Donaire to discuss Belfast’s most talked about live sporting spectacle of 2018.
Dean Perretta: First and foremost Nonito, you will be facing Carl Frampton inside the highly acclaimed SSE Arena in Northern Ireland on April 21. What does it mean for you to be unquestionably the biggest away Professional Boxer in history to ever fight in Belfast, Northern Ireland?
Perretta: Donaire vs. Frampton will of course be contested live in Carl Frampton’s native Northern Ireland. Do you feel that the destined electric atmosphere inside the SSE Arena on April 21 will be a decisive factor for you Nonito to elevate to another level other than the endless preparation and training that you’ve put forth leading up to the much-awaited clash with Frampton?
Perretta: After triumphantly winning the prestigious WBC Silver Featherweight title against Ruben Garcia Hernandez inside the high-profile Alamo Dome in San Antonio, Texas back in September 2017, how much confidence overall did the inspirational victory against Hernandez provide you for you personally on the road to the showdown with Frampton next month?
Perretta: In your opinion, which particular areas of Carl Frampton’s game do you feel you can ultimately exploit most in the ring when the bell tolls?
Donaire: This completely depends on what Carl Frampton shows up to the fight. In that I mean, the boxer or the brawler. I know that his camp will want to out box me. I don’t think they necessarily want to go toe to toe. That in itself may be a factor because of what comes naturally to Carl (Frampton) and what the game plan against me is supposed to be.
Perretta: Last but most certainly not least Nonito, both yourself and Carl Frampton have been very complimentary and highly respectful of each other in the build-up to the encounter inside the SSE Arena on April 21. How refreshing overall do you feel this pre-fight approach has been for the sport of Professional Boxing compared to what many fans have been accustomed to in recent memory?
Donaire: I think the fact that we are highly respectful to each other is a breath of fresh air. Why do we need to resort to high school name calling, bullying, involving racial slurs, or even a pushing match at a press conference? We shouldn’t. Boxing has always been regarded as a gentleman’s sport. Some people use those tactics to “sell” a fight. But in actuality, both Carl (Frampton) and I have proven ourselves in the ring. Bring in the fact that there is no “bad blood” because in honesty, we don’t know each other personally so why attack that as well? This sport should be RESPECTED and be presented as such. This isn’t a street fight, so let’s not bring it down to that level.
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