By Chris Williams: Top Rank promoter Bob Arum might want former three division world champion Nonito Donaire (31-2, 20 KO’s) to stay at 122 for his next fight against Vic Darchinyan (39-5-1, 28 KO’s) in November, but Donaire says he’s not sure if he can make 122 lbs.
Earlier tonight, in speaking with ESPN, Donaire said he’s walking around at a solid 145 lbs. right now without much of any fat on him. He said he’s going to see if he can make it back down to 122 for his next fight, but if he can’t then he’s going to move up to featherweight (126) or (130) super featherweight to fight.
Donaire will likely have his next training camp with Robert Garcia, his trainer in Oxnard, California. He won’t be doing his training strategy sessions by phone this time.
I think it’s probably wise for Donaire to forget about the 122 lb. division, as well as the 126 lb. division and go straight to 130. If he’s really walking around at a solid 145, then it’s going to be impossible for him to take off 23 lbs. of water weight to make the 122 lb. limit without weakening himself.
Even if he moves up to 126, that’s still 19 pounds of water weight to take off and that’s too much. You don’t like to have a fighter take off more than 12 lbs. of water weight for the division they’re fighting in.
Donaire should move up super featherweight or possibly lightweight. The only problem with Donaire fighting at lightweight is that he’d have to find a way to compete against guys like Ricky Burns, Adrien Broner [possibly], Richard Abril, Miguel Vazquez and Terence Crawford. That might be tough for Donaire because he would no longer have a big size advantage over the guys he’s been facing.
Donaire has called by some of his fans to be the next Pacquiao. Well this is the perfect opportunity to see if he deserves that praise by moving up to lightweight or maybe light welterweight to see how he’ll do in those weight classes.
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