MANILA, Philippines – World Boxing Association (WBA) interim super flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. has been testing himself against bigger sparring mates as he prepares to defend his title against Puerto Rican Hernan “Tyson” Marquez.

Donaire, Ring Magazine’s No. 4 pound-for-pound boxer in the world, faced welterweight-size partners Glenn Gonzales and former world featherweight champion Steven Luevano.

“I learned a lot,” Donaire told Boxing Examiner.com’s Colin Seymour about his session with Luevano.

“His punches are ridiculously sharp. You see it coming, but still it lands,” Donaire said.

The “Filipino Flash” said he will also have to work on losing at least 10 pounds to make the 115-lb limit with Marquez, whom he’ll fight on July 10.

And since he’s growing fast, shedding the weight means extra hard work.

Donaire said that after the Marquez fight, he will be asking Top Rank to move him to 118 or 122 lbs.

“I should be fighting at this weight,” he said.

The Filipino was earlier looking for a rematch with World Boxing Council (WBC) and WBA super flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan whom he knocked out as a flyweight.

However, Top Rank said Darchinyan “didn’t want anything to do with Nonito.” (Click here for story.)