Former flyweight contender Glenn Donaire sparred nine rounds Thursday at the Kennel Boxing Gym in San Leandro in what already feels like a successful comeback from a three-year hiatus . How successful? ?He?s much better,? says trainer Nonito Donaire Sr., who is not always effusive with praise.
The only thing missing is a contracted opponent.
The ideal one would be a journeyman flyweight for an August bout that would put Donaire, 31, in the win column for the first time since he avenged an earlier draw with Jose Albuquerque by winning a decision in February 2008. The August tuneup win would set up a mid-autumn bout against a more formidable opponent, presumably on an undercard headed by Glenn?s younger brother, the superstar Nonito Jr., who is expected to fight Rafael Marquez next. (Glenn and I agreed that 2009 Nonito victim Raul Martinez would make a daring choice.)
The August bout for Glenn seemed in the offing for the Robert Guerrero-Marcos Maidana card in San Jose on Aug. 27, which is being put together by Golden Boy Promotions. But when WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Nonito wound up staying with Top Rank Boxing instead of moving to Golden Boy, Glenn was nowhere.
Nonito Jr., who has mended several fences with his father and brother this year, remains confident that he can fulfill a pledge to place Glenn (17-4-1, nine knockouts) on every card he?s on, but the August tuneup is foremost in Glenn?s ambitions now, and even more so in the mind of the father, who is acting as co-manager and is the one scouting around for an opponent.
The other co-manager is the Kennel, a haven for East Bay amateurs run by Donaire relatives, for whom Arvin Jugarap is my contact. The Kennel is paying Glenn a stipend to train that has freed him from a job delivering cakes by truck for a bakery.
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Kennel benefits financially if Glenn succeeds (his top pay day was $40,000 for his loss to Vic Darchinyan in a bid for an IBF belt in 2006), and Glenn boosts the stature of the boxing program there and sets a wholesome example.
Glenn is thriving on being a star, no matter how small the scale.
?He?s the main guy here,? acknowledges Nonito Sr. It?s one of the best arrangements Glenn has had, seeing as how he was working six days and training only four during the latter stages of his career, which went on hold with his 2008 loss to Ulises Solis in an IBF light-flyweight title bid.
There is reason for skepticism, because Glenn didn?t go out on top and in some minds he peaked in 2005 before his one-round loss to Z Gorres. But the married father of two, (whose household now includes both of his separated parents) concurs that he has improved.
?Even if you just see me spar, you can see how different I am than I was before,? he says.
The biggest difference? ?He can box,? Donaire Sr. says. ?He used to want to fight inside all the time, but not now.?
To compensate for his sparring partners? relative inexperience, Glenn has been taking on 135-pounders. ?These guys give me a lot of trouble and can take my punches.?
Glenn says he weighs 119 and can readily reach 112 for a fight. In fact, his weight has been sliding too far, although he feels 108 would be ?stressful? now to his health.
?I?m stronger than six years ago,? he says. He means that physically, but he talks about having gained even more spiritually.
?My main focus is on my kids ? now that I know how it is, I love my parents even more.?
