DONAIRE’S NEW TRAINER IS ROBERT GARCIA
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 23 Dec 2009
WBA super flyweight interim champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire has picked former world champion Robert Garcia as his new trainer although he’s made it clear that former two-division world champion Dodie Boy Penalosa will remain in his corner.
Garcia trains a number of fighters including WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano and IBF light flyweight champion Brian Viloria at the La Colonia gym in Oxnard, California.
Garcia has been credited with the amazing turnaround of Viloria who is now a far more aggressive and skilful fighter as evidenced in his sensational 11th round knockout of highly-fancied Ulises Solis of Mexico to win the title last April 19 at the Araneta Coliseum.
The appointment of Garcia was made at Top Rank Promotions “Pinoy Power III” press conference at the Las Vegas Hilton earlier on Wednesday, Manila Time.
Donaire faces Mexican Gerson Guerrero in one of two title fights on the card with the other being the WBO bantamweight encounter between champion Fernando Montiel and undefeated Ciso “Kid Terrible” Morales from the Philippines.
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Also on the card, former two-division champions Gerry Penalosa and Eric Morel clash in a WBO bantamweight title eliminator while world-rated Bernabe Concepcion and Mario Santiago figure in what promises to be a ten-round war.
Donaire was first trained by his father Nonito Donaire Sr who steered his career to the IBF/IBO world flyweight championship when he scored a spectacular, one –punch knockout of Vic “The Raging Bull” Darchinyan in July 2007. That KO was chosen as "Knockout of the Year." He also handled “The Filipino Flash” in his successful title defenses against Luis Maldonado of Mexico and Moruti Mthalane of South Africa which ended in stoppages, before father and son parted ways.
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Donaire Sr then trained Marvin Sonsona who won the WBO flyweight title with a comfortable twelve round decision over Jose “Carita” Lopez but couldn’t make the weight in his first title defense and lost the belt on the scales.
Donaire Sr was in the corner of 19 year old Johnreil Casimiro when he scored a stunning 11th round knockout victory over Cesar Chantila to win the WBO light flyweight interim title in Nicaragua last Sunday and will train Ciso “Kid Terrible” Morales for his fight against Montiel on the “Pinoy Power III” card to be telecast by the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN on Sunday, February 14.
Top photo: (L-R) Nonito Donaire and new trainer Robert Garcia pose during a press conference Tuesday to announce a special edition of "Latin Fury 13/Pinoy Power 3", a Top Rank Pay Per View on Saturday,February 13,2010 from the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas. In the main event, Donaire takes on Gerson Guerrero, Eric Morel battles Gerry Penalosa and Fernando Montiel goes against Ciso Morales. --- Photo Credit : Chris Farina - Top Rank.
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