Boxing: Martinez to Donaire: It's going to be a war

Undefeated challenger Raul “The Cobra” Martinez yesterday told the public to prepare for war when he tries to dethrone reigning IBF-IBO champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire (in solo photo below) this Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Mexican-American, who won his last fight with a spectacular first-round knockout, said he’s got a lot of confidence going into the title fight despite admitting the odds are stacked against him.

“It’s a big risk on my part coming to the champion’s own country,” said the 27-year-old Martinez (24-0-0) during yesterday’s press conference at the Manila Hotel set by Solar Sports and Top Rank promotions.

“But I paid my dues and fought with fighters that gave me everything I needed to know to fight somebody like Donaire,” he said.

Martinez put away Victor Proa in the first round with his deadly left hook to win the IBA super flyweight crown last November.

Donaire owns a victory over Martinez while both were amateurs during the 2000 United States Olympic trials but Martinez said he was just a newcomer then and that he is at his prime now.

“That’s the past,” said Martinez. “On Sunday, whoever connects that punch will win.”

Also fighting in the card dubbed as “The Flash and the Furious” are Brian Viloria and IBF light flyweight champion Ulises Solis, who has won his last three fights against Filipinos.

“I’m not the one who coined the term Filipino executioner but I had a good string of fights against Filipino fighters,” said Solis (28-1-2).

But Viloria remains confident of a victory.

“The past years have taught me a lot of things,” said the 28-year-old Viloria. “But I believe that I’m a bigger, sharper fighter now.”