As super bantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka prepares to square off against Nonito Donaire of the Philippines in a unification title match, the 36-year-old is as psyched up as he's ever been in his storied career.
Nishioka, the WBC champion, will face Donaire, who holds the WBO and IBF titles, at Home Depot Center in Carson, California, on Oct. 13, in a blockbuster match for the lighter weight divisions.
Nishioka last fought in October, but his long wait for another bout is nearly over. Nishioka (39-4-3, 24 KOs) needed 39 fights to earn his first world title in 2008 and defended it seven times before being named an emeritus champion by the WBC in March, and had ardently hoped to fight Donaire (29-1, 18 KO).