DONAIRE TO TRAIN AT ALA GYM
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 13 Sep 2007
IBF/IBO flyweight champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire will train at the famed ALA Gym of respected boxing patron Tony Aldeguer in preparation for his first title defense on December 1.
Celebrated trainer Freddie Roach has described the ALA Gym as "the best in the world" among the gyms that he has seen although Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao decided to train for his October 6 rematch with Marco Antonio Barrera at his close friend Rex "Wakee" Saluds gym also in Cebu.
In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, the champion’s father and trainer Nonito Donaire Sr. said they hope to be in Cebu sometime in October. Donaire Sr said "there are no good small guys here" and he doesn’t like the idea of sparring with bigger guys saying "its hard."
It was the same predicament of Rodel Mayol who was training in Las Vegas where he couldn’t find any good small men to spar with and claimed it was one of the reasons he lost in his title fight against Ulises Solis.
Donaire who won the world title via a spectacular fifth round stoppage of previously undefeated Australian Vic Darchinyan last July 7 said "there’s lots of sparring out there" in the Philippines and a large number of talented sparring partners who could help get him into top condition.
Aldeguer said he was more than happy to extend all the courtesies and help to Donaire and assured him he would get the best sparring possible because the ALA gym has a whole roster of excellent fighters in the lower weights who would surely help Donaire in his effort to retain his world titles.
Donaire said he was currently training at the US karate and boxing gym in Haywood and has been working out for some two weeks. Donaire said he had eaten so much during his enjoyable visit to the Philippines after winning the title that he had gone up to 129 pounds.
The champion who was an instant hit among Filipino boxing fans because of his pleasant disposition and humility said he is being lined up to fight the winner of the September 22 bout between 35 year old Jose "Carita" Lopez of Pureto Rico who has a record of 35-7-2 with 29 knockouts and Luis Maldonado, the 29 year old Mexican with a record of 36-1-1 with 28 knockouts.
Maldonado lost by an eighth round TKO to Darchinyan in a title fight on June 3, 2006 but had earlier held reigning world super flyweight champion Cristian Mijares to a draw in a WBC title fight on February 24, 2006. Maldonado scored a fourth round TKO in his last bout against Jose Romero on February 17 this year.
Lopez dropped a unanimous decision to reigning WBO super flyweight champion Fernando Montiel when Montiel was flyweight champion on September 8, 2001. Lopez won the WBO Latino flyweight title on September 19, 2003 and added the Fedecentro flyweight crown with a unanimous ten round decision over Kermin Guardia on August 19, 2006.
On December 16, 206 Lopez scored a majority twelve round decision over previously undefeated Juan Alberto Rosas who had a record of 25-0 with 22 knockouts. Rosas is the same fighter who dropped a unanimous decision to the Philippines’ AJ "Bazooka" Banal last May 5, 2007.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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