12 – US-BASED FILIPINO WORLD CHAMPION TO TRAIN IN CEBU
Balita.org, UK
Wednesday, September 12 2007 @ 12:18 PM BST
Like Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao, US-based Filipino world
champion Nonito Donaire has opted to hold training in Cebu in
preparation for his title defense against still an unnamed opponent
in December.
According to television report, IBF and IBO flyweight king will be
training at the famous ALA gym owned by boxing patron Antonio Aldeguer
starting in the last week of October.
Donaire, one of the three reigning Filipino world champions after
Florante Condes and Gerry Penalosa, is currently holding preliminary
training in California and expected to arrive in the Philippines on
October 24.
Dubbed as "The Filipino Flash," the 24-year-old Donaire (18-1,
11KOs) captured his world title against Australia-based Armenian Vic
Darchinyan (28-1, 22KOs) on July 7, one day after Florante Condes
dethroned IBF minimum champion Mohammad Rachman of Indonesia.
Aldeguer welcomed Donaire’s decision to train in his gym, saying
"we will give him the kind of treatment worthy of a world champion."
Pacquiao (44-3-2, 35KOs) has also decided to train in Cebu,
specifically at the Rex ‘Wekee’ Salud gym, in preparation for his
much-awaited rematch against Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera on October
6 in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile, boxing analyst Renato Lirio said Pacquiao is only 80 percent
ready and not 90 percent as the famous Filipino fighter claimed in
his new column with Manila-based tabloid Abante.
"Manny skipped his training and went to Manila last weekend and he was
also sick two weeks ago. So, I don’t believe he is 90 percent ready. In
fact, his training is below far as compared to his preparation to
his last fight against Erik Morales," he said.
Lirio advised Pacquiao to double up his preparation if he wants to
win against revenge-seeking Barrera (63-5, 42KOs).
Famous American trainer Freddie Roach ordered to ban the visitors
starting on Tuesday from entering the training venue of Pacquiao as
his preparation entered the crucial stage.