By Dennis "dSource" Guillermo
In light of 2012 Fighter of the Year, Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire, Jr.'s statements that he would request all of of his opponents to take random drug testing before a fight, WBC jr. featherweight champion, Abner Mares, expressed his support for Donaire's plight.
Mares, who is the ideal next opponent for the WBO jr. featherweight champ Donaire, told this scribe that he himself has his own strength and conditioning coach, but has done nothing illegal, and is willing to prove it.
"Yea. I have my strength and conditioning coach. I've had him for four fights already, (Luis Garcia)," Mares said and added, "I'm all about that. I'm all about training hard. I'm all about getting my body to a whole new different level and obviously doing the right things and not doing illegal things."
Donaire is the first boxer to subscribe to 24-7, year-round random blood testing administered by VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency), in light of controversies in the sport brought about by illegal performance enhancing drugs.
"With all the testing, I give props to Nonito for doing it, showing the world that he's clean; that he doesn't need all of that to win," Mares declared. "I'm with it, I'm with it. If we were to fight, I'll be behind him 100% to do this. My hat off to him. We got to keep it like that for the sport."
The 27-year-old Mexican slugger is pushing for a Donaire clash, and has openly and publicly requested his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, and Donaire's promoter Top Rank, to make the fight happen.
"It's a fight I've been looking forward to. It's a fight I want for my career and also for the fans. It's a fight fans have been asking for by fans for quite some time now," said Mares. "I think it's time. I fought great opponents in this weight class and beat all of them, same as Nonito (Donaire). Nonito's faced great fighters and he's beaten them all. When it comes down to fighting each other, I hold a title and he holds a title as well."
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