| |
|
DONAIRE TRAINING HARD AT TOP RANK GYM
By Salven L. Lagumbay PhilBoxing.com Wed, 03 Sep 2008

IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr is currently training at the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas to prepare for his November 1 title defense against South African Moruti "Babyface" Mthalane at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
In a long-distance interview yesterday, Donaire's father/trainer Nonito Sr. informed that his son will soon start sparring against fighters that manager Cameron Dunkin will fly in to help him prepare for the fight.
"Junjun (Donaire Jr) is going to spar soon. Cameron will be sending some fighters," said Donaire Sr.
The Arthro Kontra Arthritis-backed Donaire will be making the second defense of his IBF title against mandatory challenger Mthalane following his initial defense against Mexican Luis Maldonado last December.
The father-and-son tandem was originally slated to fly to Cebu to train at the ALA Gym for an October title defense in Macau, but decided to train in the US when the fight was moved to November 1 in California.
"We've already seen some of the tapes of Mthalane. He's a very tough kid. He always comes to fight. We're not taking him lightly," added Donaire Sr in an interview yesterday.
Donaire (19-1, 12 KO's) versus Mthalane (22-1, 15 KO's) will be in the undercard of the huge bout featuring the WBA/IBF welterweight showdown between Antonio Margarito against Joshua Clottey. Margarito is coming off a big win over Miguel Cotto.
Also set to see action in the card are Julio Cesar Chavez Jr and Vanes Martirosyan, two of Top Rank's bigger fighters.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
BOXING LEGEND: JIMMY CARRUTHERS By Ray Dunbar, , Fri, 19 Jun 2026WEIGHTS FROM LONG BEACH H2O SYLVE vs. JOJO DIAZ , Fri, 19 Jun 2026Collazo vs. Valdez Final Press Conference Quotes , Fri, 19 Jun 2026Alex Eala beats World No.2 Elena Rybakina By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 19 Jun 2026Undefeated Cuban Middleweight Pedro Veitia Scores Electrifying Stoppage of Previously Unbeaten Taiwo Afolabi , Fri, 19 Jun 2026Riyadh Season boxing events will stream free starting in November By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 19 Jun 2026Heavyweight Contender Gustavo "The Cuban Assassin" Trujillo Returns June 28 in Main Event of "Fist of Fury 11" , Fri, 19 Jun 2026DC Eagles routs Perfect, 5-1 in R5 By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 19 Jun 2026PCCI Las Piñas Leaders to Visit Lipa for the June 20 JCI Rapid Chess Tournament , Fri, 19 Jun 2026Engr. Allan Anthony Alvarez eyes five squads in JCI Senate Lipa 3X3 Open Rapid Chess Tournament on June 20 By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 19 Jun 2026PACHECO CLASHES WITH ALEEM ON STACKED LA CARD , Thu, 18 Jun 2026Rising Mexican Contender Neider Valdez Steps in to Face Pound-for-Pound Puerto Rican Champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo in WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Championship Fight , Thu, 18 Jun 2026Sumabong to defend WBO title against undefeated Taiwanese on July 11 in Bohol By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026Jordan Orozco Remains Perfect with Dominant Third-Round TKO of Fernando Diaz on MVP/Boxlab Card in Orlando , Wed, 17 Jun 2026Floyd Mayweather Jr could face charges of fraud in Las Vegas By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026EDDIE HEARN SIGNS DIVINE OMOJOR FOR MATCHROOM BOXING ON LONG-TERM DEAL AS NEWCASTLE TEENAGE CRUISERWEIGHT TURNS PRO , Wed, 17 Jun 2026DC Trail Ultra on July 26 in Calinan By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026Torre to grace Gov. Oaminal Chess Festival By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026Apolinar, Santisima to fight on June 19 in Japan By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026Canoy still waiting for his US visa for June 20 fight against Collazo By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026"Hand of Stone" Roberto Durán celebrates 75th birthday By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026Sy-Tancontian excited on Asia and Oceania Sambo Championships By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026Jean Henri Lhuillier Backs RP Blu Girls' Intensive Japan Training Camp Ahead of Women's Softball World Cup By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026Digos 2 Malita 70km Ultramarathon on June 20 By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 17 Jun 2026THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 17 JUNE 2026: Bam Stops Vargas in 6; Wins by Michel Soro, Wilkens Mathieu, Elif Nur Turhan, Nataly Delgado and Abraham Perez By Eric Armit, , Tue, 16 Jun 2026 |

|
|
|
|
|