Donaire puts big fight at risk by fighting Sidorenko

Someone must've slipped something in Nonito Donaire's Thanksgiving dinner. He's doing the unheard of this Saturday.

With an HBO superfight against Fernando Montiel on the horizon, "The Filipino Flash" is moving up a weight class to take on a former champion this Saturday in Anaheim.

Donaire (24-1, 16 KOs) is already regarded by some as a Top 10 pound-for-pound fighter, but he has yet to get the premium exposure he might deserve. HBO is fired up for the February Donaire-Montiel fight at 118. Donaire, who has surprising power winning six of his last seven by KO or TKO, is prepping for his jump by facing Ukranian bruiser Wladimir Sidorenko (22-2, 7 KOs).

Since a huge win over Vic Darchinyan back in 2007, Nonaire said his recent opponents down at 115, like Hernan Marquez, Manuel Vargas and Rafael Concepcion, were too easy.

"There was a lack of motivation for those fights," Donaire admits. "There was a 'just another day at the office' kind of feeling. That's one of the motivations for the training camp because I'm fighting somebody good, an elite fighter. It does help a lot to be in there with somebody who is going to be really tough."

Donaire will try to become the first opponent to finish Sidorenko.

"We're in there against a tough guy and we have to come up with a good game plan. But Nonito's style and his footwork are perfect for either outboxing this guy and looking great against him, or even trying to go for a knockout if possible," Donaire's assistant trainer Roberto Garcia said. "I know that he's never been down or out, but Nonito has very good power so he can be the first to knock him out."

Donaire isn't worried about focus. He know he's got to get by Sidorenko if he wants that shot on HBO.

"I've never been really motivated like this before. I've never been in as tremendous shape as I am now. I'm in the best shape of my life,' Donaire said. "I want to see where that takes me. I think that being in the best shape gets me to see my real potential in boxing and my ability." 

Donaire-Sidorenko is now the main event of this weekend's "In Harm's Way" PPV. Julio Cesar Chavez had to bail from his fight because of the flu. The card also features Humberto Soto against Urbano Antillon.

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