Donaire: "Pacquiao is my blueprint"

Donaire says Manny shows nothing is impossible. The cream of the Philippines crop contains more than just Manny Pacquiao.

Nonito Donaire burst onto the scene with an unexpected, yet brilliant, one-punch knockout of the heavily favoured IBF flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan in 2007. The clinical nature of his victory attracted praise and attention, yet served to repel the desired signatures of lucrative opponents. But the delightfully talented 27-year-old, who lives in California and now holds the interim WBA super-flyweight title, is determined to follow his countryman - and idol - “Pacman” into the big pay leagues, just like he has joined him in the pound-for-pound listings.

You are widely regarded amongst the sport’s best. Do you feel the pressure of your growing reputation?

I’m just going day-by-day and fight-by-fight to make sure I belong in the top elite. It’s great that people are giving me that prestige and I am honoured that they put me in the elite, but I think I need to fight bigger fights for me to feel that I truly belong there. I want to fight in the biggest fights and the best out there. I will fight whoever they put in front of me so that I truly believe that I belong in this elite category. And that’s what we’re trying to do right now. Get the best fighter we can who is not asking for a lot of money.

Has it been frustrating that after beating Darchinyan, you have been unable to secure another big name to take you forward?

Yes, it is frustrating. I’m still fulfilling my goals to be world champion in as many divisions as we can and from this point on, we want to keep rising and rising. We want to go beyond expectations. It is really frustrating because there’s no one out there who is willing to take the fight. It is difficult to get the fighters to take the fight because they look at me and see someone who is very dangerous, has the power, has the height and the speed and unless they think they can get away from it, they would rather take another approach and a different route.

It looked recently as if a rematch with Vic was set for the summer?

It was scheduled for August 21 and it was going to be on Showtime - which is still some time away and can still happen from my point of view. But nothing is being done on his part. He doesn’t want to fight me again and that’s why he pulled out. I can’t wait anymore, I’ve been waiting for a long time and it’s time to move on and get the bigger fighters. We’re looking at [Fernando] Montiel after the next fight for later in the year.

Are you confident Fernando will succeed where Darchinyan failed and take the fight?

I think he will take the fight. At this point, if he wants to be fighting on a big network he needs me so I think it is going to happen. We were scheduled to fight last year but he couldn’t make the weight so this time, we’re going to go up to his weight and make it happen. It’s great because he holds two [WBO and WBA bantamweight] belts and I believe that they’re going to make it happen because it’s what people want to see. We’re trying to get that this year because if I do touch down at 118, I want to then move up to 122 and get a crack at Rafael Marquez.

So if all goes to plan that will be four weights you have held titles in. How high can you go?

My walk around weight is 140 so we might be able to go up to 130. Only God knows what is in store for me but I’m going to try and do my best and see how far I can reach and just get beyond that and not get complacent because I feel that when you have a goal you train harder, you work better, and you keep looking forward to something.

How did it feel to defend your world title back in the Philippines against Raul Martinez last year?

When I fought there, there was so many people who showed up - 16 or 17,000 - and they were chanting my name. It is home to me so it felt so very special; it was a really big moment. It reminded me that I am fighting for a reason. I fight with so much pride and it feels good when your whole country is behind you and everyone is supporting you. Before I got into the ring, I had goosebumps all over me. After that you’re ready to take anyone on and not afraid to get hit and hit someone.

Do you think you will fight there again?

It would be great to fight there again and I think that will happen. I’m willing to fight anyone, anywhere. I want to fight anyone who has a crown higher than me. I want to go out there and take that crown and that name from them.

How much does the success of Manny Pacquiao mean to you?

Manny Pacquiao is my blueprint. He gives me the inspiration that there’s nothing that I can’t do. He came from a very poor family and look at him now. That is because nobody could ever tell him he couldn’t do things. To him, nothing is impossible as long as you put your mind and body into it. So to me, that is my inspiration. If he can do it, you know what, I can do it and that is why I keep reaching for the stars.