Is Donaire Looking For A New Trainer?

Nonito DonaireBy – Benjie Varella: The “Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire, the newly crowned WBA Interim Superflyweight without a doubt outpointed his foe Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion of Panama last Saturday to capture the vacant title. Many boxing fans and analysts didn’t expect though the match to last full twelve rounds. I personally believed that the Filipino Flash will finish El Torito somewhere in the mid-rounds of the match but that didn’t happen. I was more than surprised when Donaire’s knees wobbled several times after wild barrage of punches from Concepcion between different rounds.

But the new champ still has to be given credits for winning the title because he was fighting a bigger-bloated Concepcion who weighed in 4 ½ pounds above the 115-pound limit. Donaire was originally fighting in the Flyweight division.

As mentioned earlier, still, many fans were disappointed by the performance of Donaire. Many spectators were waiting for annihilation just like what he did to Vic Darchinyan two years ago. No one can blame the fans; Nonito is a pound for pound boxer meaning that he is considered as one of the best boxer in the world. He needs to live up to this status.

That’s why rumours has it right after the fight that Donaire is considering of parting ways with his trainers, the Penalosa brothers, Jonathan and Dodie Boy because he was not properly conditioned for the match.

But Donaire himself during a press conference held at GMA-7 last Tuesday afternoon in Manila said that he is staying with the Penalosa’s even assuring that the brothers will be in his corner later this year for a blockbuster fight with either Arce of Montiel.

The Filipino Flash has been victorious twice with the guidance of the Penalosa’s. Prior to the Concepcion match, Donaire won by a knockout 4 months ago against then undefeated challenger Raul Martinez to retain his IBF Flyweight crown.

During the press conference, well-known trainer Freddie Roach’s name was mentioned if there was a possibility of a Donaire-Roach tandem in the future.

The Filipino Flash said that he is not closing his door of tapping the service of Roach in the future but stressed that he would prefer trainers who would give him 100% full attention from training to battle.

Donaire reiterated that Roach has a lot of boxers in the Wild Card gym to pay attention to. Pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao, Bernabe Concepcion who was disqualified in Pinoy Power 2 and Amir Khan are just few names under his care.