ALTHOUGH older and considered the underdog, Nonito Donaire is banking on his experience when he aims to knock out unbeaten World Boxing Council bantamweight champion Nordine Oubaali of France on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson City, California.
“He (Oubaali) is smart and sound, but I have the experience, the power, the speed and all the motivation to beat him. I will be looking for the knockout like I do every fight,” Donaire, 38, told Scott Christ in an interview posted on the boxing website http://badlefthook.com yesterday (Wednesday in the US).
While keen on carrying out his game plan, “The Flash” said that he would not underestimate his younger foe, a bronze medalist in the 2007 World Boxing Championships in Chicago who has won all of his 17 pro fights, 12 of them by knockout.
“Oubaali is very technically sound. You can’t underestimate a guy like him who has that amateur pedigree and who has that belt on his waist,” said Donaire, who has a record of 40 wins with 26 knockouts against six losses.
He said he has reasons to be wary of the left-handed Oubaali, 34, since “of all of my losses, half of them were southpaws. I have learned about southpaws during this layoff and I feel great. I feel like I could beat any southpaw at this moment.”
Both fighters have not fought in over a year and should be exhibiting some rust when they square off.
Donaire put up a gallant fight by lost by unanimous decision to reigning Japanese World Boxing Association super welterweight and International Boxing Federation welterweight champion Naoya Inoue on Nov. 7, 2019 at the Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
