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Lighter than light: Donaire weight issues just over-sweating says trainer

Phil D. Jay 
WBN Editor
‘Filipino Flash’ set to move up but can’t make 118lbs

Usually when a fighter is moving up in divisions and fighting in his final bout at his current weight, you would expect him to be bang on the limit in readiness to hit the next class. WBC and WBO bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire though, came in at just over 116lbs for his last contest at 118lbs as he takes on former flyweight and super-flyweight world champion Omar Narvaez.

Even Narvaez came in a pound about the Filipino and he has been campaigning at 115lbs for almost two years. In his previous two bantawweaight fights Donaire has come in bang on the limit and it was assumed that he would once again be tight at the weight and it was a huge surprise to see the reading come back as 116.25lbs last night.

The 28 year-old did spend a lengthy spell out of the ring before announcing his defence against the Argentinian and has now been out for a total of eight months, although his trainer Roberto Garcia dismissed any worries of over-training by the unified champion.

"He just had too much water and more than enough came out," Garcia told GMAnews.tv.

"It's not because we over-trained or anything. He started shadowboxing and sweating and sweated a little more than he was supposed to."

His opponent’s manager Sebastian Rivera was a little more sceptical after seeing Donaire on the scales but refused to question whether he was in the right shape.

"Have you seen him? At the weigh-in he was really tired," said Rivera.

"But Saturday is another day. Nonito is a very professional man and for sure he'll be good in the fight."

Nonito Donaire v Omar Narvaez is live on HBO from 10pm ET/7pm PT tonight. UK viewers can catch the fight live on BoxNation from 2am.
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