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On Monday, two-division world champion Nonito Donaire (24-1, 16 KOs) worked out in front of hundreds of fans that turned out at the Undisputed Boxing Gym in San Carlos, California. He is preparing to face former longtime WBA bantamweight champion Wladimir Sidorenko (22-2-2, 7 KOs) in a clash to be held at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calirornia on December 4 and broadcast live on pay-per-view. A victory by Donaire will set him up for challenging WBC bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel early next year.

Sidorenko, a former WBA bantamweight world champion who made eight defenses, will be the first Eastern European style opponent for ‘The Filipino Flash’

“My style is very versatile, so whatever comes at me,” said Donaire. “I only look at it in terms of hands. When the left hand comes, the right hand will come in and it’s always that process regardless of what style he has. The human body will always do the same process as anybody else, which is two hands, one is a left and the other one is the right and that’s what I look at and that’s how I’m able to counter a lot of guys because I know what’s coming at me. And whatever’s coming at me, I can devise a plan and if I can’t see it, Robert [Garcia] will see what I need to do and that’s why we’re very confident. I believe in Robert and I believe in my corner and my ability to change in whatever I need to, in order for me to take advantage of my opponent.”

Even though Donaire is a former flyweight and super flyweight world champion and Sidorenko has fought at a championship level at bantamweight, Donaire is actually the larger man.

“I’ve always fought early in my career at this weight. I’m a bigger guy. I only got to 12 because I had the opportunity at 112 and then 115 and I didn’t want to let go of it. Now that I’m closer to my regular weight of 118, I’m good. I’m real confident and we trained really hard so it doesn’t matter if the guy’s bigger or I’m bigger, whatever it is, it’s a matter of game plan and executing it in the ring.”

Donaire was emphatic that he would make a statement in the fight, doing what no one has ever done: Stop Sidorenko early.

“I always look for a knockout and it’s the best victory you can ever achieve,” he stated. “I don’t want to be cocky and I don’t want to sound cocky but I think it’s a motivation thing in my head to keep me going. Regardless whether I win by decision or not, I know I’m motivated to be the first guy to knock this guy out. That’s what I want to do and that’s what I’m going to try to do, when I’m given the opportunity in that ring. And if not, I’m always smart about a lot of things and I know that Robert’s going give me the right decision about what to do out there. That motivation does help me out a lot in trying to knock this guy out.”

We also asked him for his prediction on SHOWTIME’s bantamweight tournament and the possibly of eventually facing the winner.

“Maybe, that’s a possibility. I never turn down a good fight. All of them (in the SHOWTIME tournament) are pretty much equal in terms of experience, some have youth, some have experience, some have power, some have intelligence but, to me it doesn’t matter who wins I’m always willing for a good fight.

“I would go with Mares. In terms of power, there’s Darchinian in there, but overall ability I think that Mares has the ability to beat Darchinian. It could backfire as well, but that’s something I care little about in my training camp because I’m really focused on my guy and then Montiel.”