Philippines, 31 Aug 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


A BOXING GYM RISES IN OAKLAND (PHOTOS)


PhilBoxing.com




OAKLAND ? As soon as you walk inside the Donaire Sr Gym here, located at 1920 Park Boulevard along the busy Lake Meritt area just east of downtown, you will be impressed with the trappings of what has become a first class boxing gym. Rows of heavy bags line up on the left side opposite a mirrored-wall where enough space is left vacant for other exercise routines. The elevated boxing ring is located towards the interior of the gym where the speed bags are also placed on the side. The lockers and the restroom occupy the very end of the 3,000 square feet rectangular sweat shop of what once was a hardware store. The gym formally opened Feb. 1 this year.

?Nonito (Donaire Sr) personally designed this gym,? Donaire Sr's partner Abraham Morones, a young Mexican-American who is also Senior's dedicated boxing student, told us as he walked us through the gym. ?Also Nonito personally did the steel works, welding and carperntry. This gym is a labor of love.?

Donaire Sr is of course the famous father of 4-division champion and former pound-for-pound fighter Nonito 'The Filipino Flash' Donaire Jr. Father and son first burst into the limelight in July 7, 2007 when Nonito Jr, with Senior in his corner, upset then IBF and IBO flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan with a one-punch knock of the year left cross in the 5th round. Father and son had a falling out for several years but reunited in Junior's last two fights where Junior won a rematch with Darchinyan on Nov. 9, 2013 and a 4th division title win against Simpiwe Vetyeka of South Africa in Macau last month. Donaire Sr raised his family in San Leandro where he still resides until now while Junior, now married to Rachel, has relocated in Las Vegas.

Top photo: Gym partners Nonito Donaire Sr (R) and Abraham Morones are the cog behind the Donaire Sr gym in Oakland, CA.



The gym interiors.


Donaire Sr watches Abraham Morones do the heavy bag.


Donaire Sr and prized pupil Joebert Alvarez.


L-R: Promoter Sammy Gello-ani, Boxing Judge Rey Danseco and the author at Donaire's gym.

?I want to develop world champions in this gym,? Nonito Sr told us. So far the gym produced a regional champion in Joebert Alvarez who won the WBC Continental Americas flyweight title last April with a unanimous decision victory over Mexico's Julian Rivera in Mexico City. Alvarez, 24, is originally from General Santos City who relocated to Northern California last year and so far has racked up 14 wins and 1 draw in 15 outings.

Former world champion Marvin Sonsona and Flyweight contender Froilan Saludar had their last leg of training in the Donaire Sr Gym before Sonsona fought his rematch with Wilfredo Vazquez Jr in New York last June 7 and Saludar's IBF world title eliminator bout with McWilliams Arroyo on June 19 in Puerto Rico.

The gym, whose operating hours starts at 3:00 p.m. and closes at 9:00 p.m. everyday, also accepts regular fitness students and this early, the gym already attracts a steady stream of fitness buffs around the area, mostly regular office workers. ?So far we have about 50 students enrolled,? said Morones who is running the day-to-day affair of the gym. ?The gym normally becomes busy around 5:00 p.m. until closing time and the way things are going, I won't be surprised if we're going to expand in the very near future,? Morones added.

Only 30 minutes away from downtown San Francisco and within driving and commuting range from all of the Bay Area, and with a famous name attached to it, the gym promises to become a boxing hub in Northern California.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Martha Salazar: Stepping Out of Her Own Shadow
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • Laurente and Marapu Make Weight for IBF Regional Title; Gaballo Fights Tomorrow in Sanman Boxing Show in Gensan
    , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • IM Christian Arca sweeps 10-game simultaneous chess in IIEE SMRC in Davao City
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • GOLDEN BOY PRESENTS “I’M SWEET” FEATURING GABRIELA “SWEET POISON” FUNDORA
    , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • Traya, Bactol, De Barbo, Porres in Action in Highland Show in Thailand, live on DAZN
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • Bisutti, Panya Make Weight for UBO World Title in Highland Show on DAZN
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • Turki Alalshikh the most influential boxing leader in United Kingdom
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • Bambam will flight ‘clean & disciplined’ against Requito
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • Carlos Flowers Ready to Blossom on the World’s Stage at 2025 World Boxing Championships
    , Sat, 30 Aug 2025
  • Traya eyes KO win against Thai tomorrow
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Fri, 29 Aug 2025
  • Navarrete's Future in Question as He Resists Rematch with Charly Suarez
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 29 Aug 2025
  • Davao's Corteza beats Biado, Aranas enters round-of-32 in P2 Million Bata Reyes 10 Ball Open
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 29 Aug 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: The Growth of Boxing
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 29 Aug 2025
  • Toshihiko Era Retains WBF Asia Strap in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 29 Aug 2025
  • Boxlab Promotions Signs Rising Cuban Prospects Ronny Alvarez and Pedro Veitia
    , Fri, 29 Aug 2025
  • Boxing Legend & Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr. Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Fri, 29 Aug 2025
  • Vayson vies for WBA/WBO titles
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 28 Aug 2025
  • Mexican "The Rock" Zamora, three-time female world champion with 20 world championship fights, retires
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 28 Aug 2025
  • “I’M ONLY GETTING BETTER”: CONFIDENT PAT McCORMACK PLOTS HUGE HOMECOMING WIN OVER MIGUEL PARRA TO SPARK WORLD TITLE CHARGE
    , Thu, 28 Aug 2025
  • Heart of a Lion: 'Lucky Boy' Reymark Alicaba Earns Praise Despite Loss by Points in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 28 Aug 2025
  • Dante Kirkman Looks to be the First Fighter to Stop Dylan Carlson
    , Thu, 28 Aug 2025
  • Shawn Darling Inducted into New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame
    , Thu, 28 Aug 2025
  • Arca wins 13th Mindanao Open chessfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 28 Aug 2025
  • Carzano rules FIDE-Rated Open Rapid Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Thu, 28 Aug 2025
  • Pythons-Primo wins 5 golds, 3 silvers, 2 bronzes in Kadayawan judo
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Thu, 28 Aug 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.