Glenn ?The Filipino Bomber? Donaire (16-3-1, 9 KOs) makes his first ring appearance in over a year on February 22nd at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno, Nevada. In his last bout, in October of 2006, he gave a courageous effort against then-IBF Flyweight titlist Vic Darchinyan, a naturally larger opponent, before suffering an injury and dropping a sixth-round technical decision. Since that loss, Donaire has been on the sidelines, staying ready in the gym, but without the opportunity to show his skills in the ring.
Time away from the ring is not something Donaire desired. ?There have been fights scheduled for me, like six to nine fights, but like a week before the fight they will tell me the guy don?t want to fight you Glenn or this and that for some reason I don?t know why. But I have been training, I?ve been in the gym everyday. The most I?ve been off is a week, that?s it, because I always have a fight supposedly, but it never happens,? Donaire explained to 15rounds.com.
The sixteen month layoff is by far the longest of Donaire?s career, something that he has found to be frustrating. ?I was feeling depressed because I had no fights. I was ranked in the world back then. I was number two in the WBO and I think number ten in the IBF, but that disappeared because I didn?t have any fights.?
Now without the world ranking, Donaire will begin the difficult climb up the ladder with a familiar opponent, one that held him to a draw nearly two years ago. Donaire meets Jose Albuquerque (8-2-2, 2 KOs) originally of Altamira, Para, Brazil, in a scheduled eight-round bout. Albuquerque, a former Brazilian Olympian, may be better than his record would indicate. His first loss came at the hands of the venerable Benjamin Garcia, (12-9-3, 1 KO), who he also holds a win over. Albuquerque, who normally fights at flyweight, also recently lost to undefeated Austreberto Juarez (8-0, 2 KOs), but that fight was fought at 121 pounds.
Since the fight with Juarez, Albuquerque has won two decisions, while Donaire has been out of action. The in-ring inactivity is not something that worries the Donaire camp however. ?I don?t believe in ring rust, as long as you?re in the gym,? Donaire explains. ?If you are out for a long time, then you will feel that ring rust. But I have been in the gym, so hopefully, God forbid, I won?t feel what they call ring rust.? Glenn?s father-trainer, Nonito Sr, is not bothered by his time away from the ring either. ?It is not any problem. Because after he lost to Darchinyan in October, he was supposed to fight again in March, but it didn?t happen. So he had started training last January, until now, so he has had more than a year of training. So I am really confident.?
Although the first meeting between the two was declared a draw, one judge had the fight for Donaire, and he believes he did well enough to earn a victory. ?I knocked him down twice, but the referee didn?t count it. The last knock down was in the sixth round. I dropped him, but the referee said he grabbed the rope. That?s a knockdown right there, because I hit him with a straight right hand. Anyway, I don?t make any excuses, if it?s a draw then it?s a draw, but at the end of the fight the referee told me I was supposed to win the fight. But it was a draw, so that?s alright.? With the experience of their first encounter behind him, Donaire expects a tough fight on the 22nd, ?He moves in and out, he?s very quick. He?s a very, very experienced fighter. He knows how to deal, because I hit him with a bodyshot and a straight right hand, and he was rocked. But he knows how to deal, so this is going to be a good fight. This is going to be a very good fight.?
Donaire, originally of General Santos City, Philippines, but now residing in San Leandro, California, prepares for this bout without the benefit of having his regular gym partner, and brother, Nonito Donaire Jr. in camp with him. Nonito defeated Darchinyan by stunning fifth-round knockout last July, winning the IBF and IBO Flyweight titles, and has since spent much of his time in the Philippines, where he prepared for his December title defense against Luis Maldonado. However, Glenn looks well conditioned, and believes in his preparation for this contest, despite his brother?s absence. ?I?m experienced enough, I?ve been fighting all my life. My dad is here, so we are sparring. I spar with some guys out here and even though they are not at the same level as my brother, they?ve made me work and get my timing, maintain my focus and everything.?
The success his younger brother Nonito has had the past year, while Glenn has been out of the ring, has served as motivation for him to reach his own goals in the ring. ?He really inspired me,? says Donaire. ?I want us to be the first [Filipino] brothers to win the world title at the same time. The Penalosa brothers, his brother [Dodie Boy] won a while back, and then he [Gerry] won a world title. My brother has the world title now, I don?t want to let my parents and my family down, I?ve got to have mine. It?s going to be at 108 though, at 112 I?m too small.?
Although Glenn?s size makes him better suited for the 108-pound flyweight division, he has never turned down opportunities when they arose at the higher weight. ?Since last year I?ve asked [my manager] Cameron [Dunkin] to put me in at 108, but there have been openings at 112, so you cannot turn down a title fight. Like with Cesar Lopez, I had three weeks notice, but I still fought since it was a title fight. I have been a 108 fighter, I walk around at 115, 116 so 108 is not a problem for me.? The opportunity with Lopez was one Glenn created for himself by accident. His brother Nonito was originally scheduled to meet Lopez on May 5, 2006, for the WBO NABO and NABA Flyweight titles, in a bout to be televised by Showtime. A few weeks before the fight, Glenn injured his brother?s jaw in sparring. Glenn was offered the fight, and stepped in to win the titles with a decisive unanimous decision. For the bout in Reno, Glenn will get to fight at the weight he is more comfortable at, something he was not completely expecting. ?It?s 108, 109,? says Donaire of the contracted weight for the fight. ?108 give or take. I thought it was 110, 111, but it is 108, 109 this fight.?
While not looking past Albuquerque, Glenn hopes to make his inactive 2007 a distant memory by winning a world title in 2008. ?Hopefully if I just talk to my manager he can keep me busy,? Donaire explains. ?Just focus on fighting and hopefully this year, God willing, get a world title.? While Donaire hopes for a title try, he is not singling out anyone in particular just yet, ?Any world champions. Whoever my manager says to fight, I?ll fight. I never say no to anybody. Any world champion at 108 man and I?ll be happy.? Donaire plans on proving his deservedness as a title contender with his first fight back on the 22nd in Reno, ?Right now I have to prove myself to show [my fans] that I am not a firecracker, I am the Filipino Bomber.? Donaire would also like to thank his team at the US Karate & Boxing gym in Hayward, California for their support.
The bout between Donaire and Albuquerque is the co-main event of a six-bout card promoted by Let?s Get It On Promotions on February 22nd at the Silver Legacy Resort Casino in Reno. In the ten-round main event, Yerington, Nevada?s Jesse Brinkley (29-5, 20 KOs) meets Otis Griffin (18-2-2, 7 KOs) of Sacramento, California for the vacant WBC USNBC Super Middleweight title. Tickets for the event can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or by calling the casino box office at 800-687-8733 .
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at [email protected]
