DONAIRE TO BEGIN SPARRING NEXT WEEK
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 04 Mar 2016
WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire is planning to start sparring hopefully next week according to his trainer/father ?Dodong? Donaire.
?Dodong? told The Standard that ?Nonito is doing good but hasn?t started sparring as yet. He is working the mitts, running, sprinting because he wants to be really in shape before he starts sparring.?
The trainer said they have picked Fredrick Bowen who was one of Nonito?s sparring partners when he trained for the Cesar Juarez clash for the vacant title, once again.
?Dodong? Donaire told us ?I?m very happy because Nonito trains hard.?
He said he does his conditioning on Tuesdays and Thursdays and works on the punch-mitts and the other routines in the gym on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
Donaire who won the 122 pound title the second time around with a lopsided unanimous decision over Mexico?s Cesar Juarez who was ranked No.1 by the WBO while Nonito was No. 2 after he dropped Juarez twice in the 4th round but had to battle back in a brutal second half of the fight when Juarez suddenly showed amazing recuperative qualities and came on strong.
Donaire?s opponent in his title defense scheduled for April 23 at the Cebu City Sports Center is No. 4 ranked Zolst Bedak of Hungary, a former member of the Hungarian Olympic team, to the 2004 Athens Olympics.
At the games Bedak scored an impressive victory over Abner Mares who later became a world champion in the pro ranks.
Bedak reportedly fights very much like the original choice Evgeny Gradovich who declined to fight Donaire because the former featherweight champion was having a hard time to make the 122 pound limit and instead will fight a ten round bout against unbeaten Oscar Valdez who has a record of 18-0 with 16 knockouts on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley clash on April 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
ABAP feels WB’s growing pains
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 10 Sep 2025Laurente is new Philippine super featherweight champ
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 10 Sep 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 8 SEPTEMBER 2025: Nunez Outpoints Diaz; Iglesias Stops Shishkin; Valdez, Conlan Register Wins in Return
By Eric Armit, Tue, 09 Sep 2025Dante Kirkman Stays Undefeated Triumphing with Dominant Unanimous Decision Win
Tue, 09 Sep 2025Dream fight for Steven Sumpter vs. Undefeated Bek Nurmaganbet This Wednesday at Fontainebleau Las Vegas during ‘Canelo vs. Crawford’ Week
Tue, 09 Sep 2025Yoseline Perez and Malachi Georges Advance to Quarterfinals with Wins on Day Five of World Boxing Championships
Tue, 09 Sep 2025GM candidate Ronald Dableo's squad rules Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso Inter-Barangay Chess Team Tournament, pockets P150,000
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 09 Sep 2025Saggap, Manayon top Heritage Aquathlon
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 09 Sep 2025Rizal Memorial Coliseum: The Arena That Endured War and Forged Generations of Filipino Greats
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Tue, 09 Sep 2025“The Homecoming” turned into Coronation for Marco Romero
Tue, 09 Sep 2025Christopher “Pitufo” Diaz Speaks After Pushing Eduardo Nunez to the Limit in Thrilling War – A Potential Fight of the Year
Tue, 09 Sep 2025Santisima Wins But Vicelles Loses; Suarez-Navarrete Rematch Hangs in the Balance?
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Mon, 08 Sep 2025Locked & loaded for Lewis Crocker rematch, Paddy Donovan has prepared to be crowned the new IBF Welterweight World Champion
Mon, 08 Sep 2025Robby Gonzales Advances to Round of 16 with Win Over Cuba
Mon, 08 Sep 2025James Padua rules Marikina rapid chess championship
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 08 Sep 2025