No worries whatsoever as Donaire stakes titles vs Martinez

MANILA, Philippines – Nonito “The Filipino Flash" Donaire, Jr. oozes with confidence as he stakes his IBF-IBO flyweight belts against unbeaten but less-experienced Raul “Cobrita" Martinez on Sunday morning at the Araneta Coliseum. “For me he (Martinez) looks nervous. I don't know, probably it's because I'm just very confident. I know it’s the first time in my life na wala akong kaba, wala akong doubts. I trained really hard. I pretty much like I leave it all on the line, lahat na like I’m really going to war," Donaire said a day before he tangles with the Mexican-American challenger. Doing away with the usual pre-fight diplomacy, Donaire (20-1-0) said the 27-year-old challenger from San Antonio, Texas (24-0-0, 14 KOs) is not ripe for the big leagues yet. “This guy (Martinez) is good but he’s not better than the other champions out there. If I’m ready to take on the other champs, I can take this guy. So I don’t have any doubts because if I can take on (interim WBO bantam champ Fernando) Montiel, Montiel is better than him, if I can take on (undisputed super flyweight champ Vic) Darchinyan, Darchinyan's better than him. I think I’m more gifted than him (Martinez) in terms of boxing," said Donaire. And the Bohol-born fighter planned to amplify his advantages with the energy that he draws from the crowd on hand at "The Flash and the Furious" double championship card. “I’m doing this fight for the people. Every time I hear their cheers I wanna push harder," he said. But Martinez expressed belief his time is now. “I feel I’m in my prime. I can do something big for my career now," said Martinez, who pulled off a first round knockout of his last opponent Victor Proa last year. Donaire and Martinez crossed paths during Saturday’s official weigh-in at the Manila Hotel, where both met the flyweight limit. Martinez came in at 112-lbs. flat, half pound heavier than the champion. But Donaire has had some sauna session to do as he was still three pounds over a few hours before the 10 a.m. weigh-in. “I’m just happy I got the weight so I get to eat now. I know I’m gonna make the weight but I didn’t know that I’ll go 111.5 (lbs). My focus was to get the weight," Donaire said hours after weigh-in. With the weight hurdled, Donaire can now focus on the task at hand – a successful third defense of the twin titles he won via an amazing knockout of Darchinyan back in July 2007. –Olmin R. Leyba, GMANews.TV