FilAmstar.net: Donaire headlines ‘Pinoy Power 3’

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Donaire headlines ‘Pinoy Power 3’
Feb 5, 03:18 PM

By NICHOLAS VON WETTBERG

At a recent public workout Filipino-American boxer Nonito Donaire Jr. looked primed and ready to go for his upcoming Feb. 13 WBA super flyweight title fight against Gerson Guerrero at the Latin Fury 13/Pinoy Power 3 event in Las Vegas.

Donaire’s workout on Jan. 30 at the Undisputed Gym in San Carlos attracted a few hundred people, many Bay Area Fil-Am boxing fans, and provided an excellent opportunity to watch the training routine of the former IBF flyweight title holder and sixth-ranked boxer on Ring Magazine’s pound-for-pound best list.

After getting his hands taped, the “Filipino Flash” thanked those in attendance for their support, stretched for five minutes, and then got down to business with the workout.

Showing off much of the quickness that has helped the 27-year-old Pinoy win 21 consecutive bouts, Donaire moved effortlessly around the ring, firing rapid successions of crisp blows to the mitts of trainer Robert Garcia.

Donaire, the interim WBA world super flyweight champion, followed the mitts with a leg workout, a session with the speed bag and ended the day’s routine with some abdominal exercises.

While the fight against the veteran Guerrero (34-8, 26 KO’s) might not be the marquee match-up Donaire (22-1, 14KO’s) had hoped for, the 32-year-old Mexican boxer is still a formidable and dangerous opponent as the No. 3 ranked super flyweight in the WBC and No. 10 in the WBA.

Nearly two-thirds of Guerrero’s 26 knockout victories have occurred within the first three rounds.

Donaire says that he is not looking past Guerrero, and judging by the amount of work he has put in, it is evident that his opponent is not being taken lightly.

Donaire wrapped up a productive training camp at the Undisputed Gym after completing 90 rounds of sparring, a large majority of them against a duo of partners with contrasting styles, Eric Manriquez and Randy Caballer.

The two sparring partners are credited by Donaire as helping to sharpen his overall ring awareness.

After four or five more rounds of sparring in Las Vegas, Donaire begins the tapering down process sometime early next week.

There have been reported talks about a potential rematch with super flyweight champ Vic Darchinyan, who Donaire upset with a knockout victory in 2007 to capture the IBF flyweight title.

The Top Rank Boxing-promoted affair, Latin Fury 13/Pinoy Power 3, features six Filipino boxers on the draw, yet another testament to Manny Pacquiao and the lucrative drawing power of Pinoy pugilists.

One fighter on the bill not nearly as well-known as Donaire is Fil-Hawaiian Bruno Escalante, who will be fighting his first professional bout.

The other Filipino fighters on the card are Gerry Penalosa, Bernabe Concepcion, Mark Melligen and Ciso Morales, who has been training for the fight the past month under Arvin Jugarap and crew at the Fil-Am owned and operated Kennel Boxing Gym in San Leandro, California.

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