Boxing’s Happy Moment DONAIRE FATHER AND SON BACK IN EACH OTHER’S ARMS

By Manny Pinol

It’s official: Nonito Donaire Sr. is back as the trainer of his son, Nonito Donaire, Jr.

In a press conference held in Manila a few days ago, the 4-time world boxing champion, Nonito Jr., announced that popular Mexican trainer Robert Garcia will no longer be in his corner when he fights South Africa’s Simpiwe Vetyeka for the latter’s World Boxing Association (WBA) Featherweight title in Macau on May 31.

It was an announcement which was received gladly by Filipino boxing observers and writers who witnessed the bitter feud between the father and son a few years ago.

It was a feud which I was somehow emotionally involved with as well not only because Nonito Sr. is a dear friend but also because I understood how it felt when a father severs his relationship with a son he took care of since he was small.

In fact, a series of articles I wrote about the father and son break up which was carried by philboxing.com earned a reaction from the boxing champion who threatened in his twitter page of a “sonic boom” punch for those who were meddling in is much-publicized feud with his father.

I did not let that threat pass though. I reminded the champion that there is no punch faster than a bullet, a statement which was misconstrued by many as a threat.

But that all is past now.

Today, I am one of those who are pleased and relieved that the father and son have embraced each other once again.

Together, they are going to take on the world again with Nonito Jr. expected to become one of the most dominating figures in Philippine boxing, after Manny Pacquiao.

Here is a report writte by Marc Anthony Reyes of the Philippine Daily Inquirer:

MANILA, Philippines — In more ways than one, Nonito Donaire Jr. is going back to his roots.

Admitting that his one-punch game-plan is not going to work in the long run, Donaire said Tuesday he will employ a different strategy in his career that also involved replacing renowned Mexican trainer Robert Garcia with his father, Nonito Sr., as trainer.

Donaire (32-2-0 with 21 knockouts) held a presser to announce his May 31 title fight against World Boxing Association champion Simpiwe Vetyeka of South Africa (26-2-0 with 15 KOs) at Venetian Macau. The fight will be carried by ABS-CBN and HBO.

The 31-year-old Donaire said last year was “the crossroads of my career where I questioned myself, is this what’s important to me? Or have I reached the pinnacle of my career.”

Seated beside him at Edsa Shangri-La ballroom was his father, who will train him for the first time since 2007.

Donaire Sr. had a much-publicized feud with his son but patched things up before Nonito stopped Vic Darchinyan last year. Donaire struggled against Darchinyan before his vaunted left hook bailed him out in the 9th.

Earlier that year, he lost his 122 titles to Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux, who exposed Donaire’s unhealthy reliance on landing a big punch instead of throwing combinations.

Now, Donaire said he and his father will focus on his old “cerebral style.”

“With my father at my side, we can unleash my full potential, my true potential,” he said.