Source : ABS CBN Sports
But Donaire, a consensus top five pound-for-pound fighter, is only too eager to take that risk as he wants to prove himself against the world's best boxers.
Filipino American boxer Nonito Donaire (L) and Japanese boxer Toshiaki Nishioka pose at a news conference to announce their upcoming match against in Los Angeles, California August 27, 2012. Photo by Mario Anzuoni, Reut
"To me, Nishioka is the best," Donaire said in an interview with RingTV. "If you want to be the best, you've got to face the best, and try to make the big fights happen."
"If you're a fighter, then to me, you have to find the fighters who can challenge you and who will put you at risk. You put yourself at risk of losing, at risk of getting hurt, at risk of losing your life. That's all part of boxing, and that's all part of challenging yourself," he added.
Even so, Donaire admitted that Nishioka poses quite a big challenge for him. According to the "Filipino Flash," Nishioka is possibly the "most complete fighter" he has faced in his career, other than perhaps bantamweight terror Fernando Montiel.
"Montiel was a complete fighter, but this guy (Nishioka) is even more of a veteran. Nishioka has been a good fighter all around," Donaire said.
"Not only does he have speed, power and experience, but he's also a southpaw. So there are a lot of factors as far as his style that I have not seen in other opposition," he added.
"With him being a southpaw, I've not seen this much of a combination of that and other things about his skills all in one fighter, and who is a left-hander like Nishioka. He's strong, he's fast, and he hits hard."
Nishioka has won 16 straight fights and has not lost since 2004. He has fought in the United States only three times – this fight being the fourth – but he has shown that he is capable of going into enemy territory and winning.
"Nishioka has beaten other guys in their territory and on their home turf. He's defeated some good people by knockout, so I know that he's very, very dangerous," Donaire said.
But for Donaire, the risk of taking on a dangerous fighter like Nishioka will only make him better.
"I try to fight the best out there, even with this opportunity that I’ve got against Nishioka. He's a tough opponent," he said. "You don't become a better fighter by not stepping up and challenging other people out there."
"To me, Nishioka is the best guy out there."
Donaire will defend his International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization super bantamweight championships against Nishioka. Also on the line are the RING's super bantamweight belt and the World Boxing Council's "diamond" belt.
The Donaire-Nishioka clash will take place on October 13 at the Home Depot Center in California.
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