Simpiwe Vetyeka believes Nonito Donaire’s style will help him win their title fight in Macao, China, on Saturday night.
The South African, who is set to defend his WBA “super” featherweight belt against the Filipino veteran, has watched videos of Donaire's most recent fights, against Guillermo Rigondeaux and Vic Darchinyan.
"I believe his style is tailor-made for me,” Veyteka said this week, adding that he was confident of doing the same against Donaire that he had done against Chris John.
Victory over Donaire would be a springboard to greater things, Vetyeka said. "It will enable me to pursue my ambition of unifying the featherweight titles and become an undisputed world champion."
Vetyeka faces an opponent who has been a champion in four divisions. The 31-year-old Donaire has been rated among the ten best boxers, pound for pound, in the world and has a professional record of 32-2, including 21 wins inside the distance.
He showed signs of wear and tear recent bouts, but says he is back to his best. The 33-year-old Vetyeka is therefore right to expect what he regards as "the fight of my life".
Donaire lost on points to Rigondeaux and appeared to be heading for another defeat when he knocked out Darchinyan in the ninth round.
He is now back with the trainer who took him to the top, his father. Donaire Sr has said he will remould his son's approach to what it was: that of a ferocious fighter and a skilled boxer who could switch “as the occasion demands”.
Vetyeka's career seemed on a downward path before he bounced back last year. His victory over Daud Cino Yordan in a fight for the IBO featherweight title signalled his intentions.
He surprised almost all critics when he beat John, who had been undefeated in 50 fights over ten years. The Indonesian failed to come out for the seventh round and immediately retired from boxing.
Now the Eastern Cape star has to pull out another excellent performance to beat Donaire, who once gave another South African, former IBF champion Jeffrey Mathebula, a hiding.
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