MANILA, Philippines — Nonito Donaire won’t waste time in trying to find out how tough is Fernando Montiel, the heavy-handed Mexican slugger he is going to face on Feb. 19 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

“The plan is to take it to him but also fight smart,” Donaire told the Bulletin from his training headquarters near San Francisco, California.

Donaire had kicked off his sparring sessions only last week and it is expected to intensify in the coming two weeks with the arrival of a couple more s parmates.

“I am feeling very good right now, my weight is in check and I am very excited to fight (Montiel),” said Donaire, who is favored by oddsmakers to knock the World Boxing Council (WBC)and World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight crowns off Montiel’s head.

So serious is Donaire in his bid to beat Montiel that he has done one thing that he had avoided doing in the past.

In revving up for his fights, Donaire was not actually interested in viewing the fights of his foe on video but he had to make a major adjustment this time.

“I have watched five or six of Montiel fights on video and I have been carefully studying his fighting style,” said Donaire, who doesn’t see the scheduled 12-rounder going the full route.

“This fight will not go 12 (rounds),” said Donaire.

Top Rank is staging the Donaire-Montiel bout and Hall of fame promoter Bob Arum expects a slambang affair come fight night.

Nick Giongco, Manila Bulletin