DONAIRE TRAINING HARD FOR VETYEKA TITLE FIGHT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 22 Apr 2014
Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire continues his relentless training in pursuit of a fifth world title when he battles WBA featherweight champion Simpiwe Vetyeka of South Africa at the Cotaian Arena of the Vnetian Resort Hotel and Casino in Macau on May 31.
After two sparring sessions at the ALA Gym in Cebu against undefeated Cuban Remi Aleye, Donaire returned to Manila with his father/trainer Nonito "Dodong" Donaire Sr for a well-attended press conference hosted by Top Rank Promotions, the Venetian and ABS-CBN at the EDSA Shangrila after which he showed up at the Elorde Gym along Sucat, Paranaque for an afternoon workout.
Donaire told the Manila Standard that after a big year in 2012 when four impressive victories as a super bantamweight earned him the prestigious "Fighter of the Year" award, he entered the "crossroads" of his career in 2013 after his loss to former Cuban Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux in April and decided "I have too much pride, I want to be in this game. I have too much of everything to walk away."
He revealed that the loss to the two-time Olympic gold medalist "re-ignited my desire for boxing" while his last fight in which he scored a 9th round TKO in a rematch with Vic Darchinyan after being behind on the scorecards of all three judges said "it stamped my decision to being a fighter because I want to be here."
Donaire said "training has been good given that I have been eating like crazy" but added that with his father in training camp "we get in shape really fast." He revealed that at the moment he is 140 pounds.
He said while he's been sparring only four rounds each time, "my stamina is good in terms of where I started."
Donaire said we have started reducing and will spar six rounds next week, the following week eight and then ten and finally twelve rounds in the final week "then I will be ready."
Donaire plans to train at the ALA Gym until May 2 and then resume training at the Elorde Gym in Paranaque.
Donaire said his Cuban sparring partner who once fought and lost to Rigondeaux as an amateur "reminds me of Vetyeka" which his father/trainer "Dodong" Donaire has lined up several Filipino and a Thai sparring partner for three weeks ahead.
He said both he and his dad had watched the fight tapes of Vetyeka because he "wanted to see how Vetyeka is as a fighter and my dad knows what strategy to use and I am excited."
Donaire said he hasn't given his all "in terms of talent, speed, power and the overall skill as a boxer and this time I want to give it all in this fight. I am not one hundred percent yet but that's my goal, to give it my all."
Photo: Donaire (R) spars with Cuban Remi Aleye at the ALA Gym Monday. Photo by Dong Secuya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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