REIGNING World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. said he is honored to be tagged as the boxer likely to track Manny Pacquiao's path to greatness and has vowed to live up to the billing.
No less than WBO president Francisco Valcarcel has anointed the 29-year-old as the boxer likely to follow in the footsteps of the great `Pacman’ after his ninth-round stoppage of Toshiaki Nishioka in his last title defense.
“Malaking karangalan sa akin `yun,” said the `Filipino Flash.’ “It’s like being compared to one of the greatest like Muhammad Ali or Sugar Ray Leonard.
“So for me, I want to do my best to live up to that.”
Donaire arrived in the country on Saturday after successfully defending his WBO 122-lb. title against Nishioka. He is set to be named WBO Fighter of the Year ahead of his scheduled December 15 title match against banger Jorge Arce in Mexico.
Donaire became WBO champion early this year following a split decision over Puerto Rican Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. He later defended it against Jeffrey Mathebula of South Africa, claiming the International Boxing Federation version of the crown along the way.
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