NEW YORK CITY ? Lost amid the hype and hoopla of Nonito Donaire Jr.?s bout against Omar Narvaez, and the subsequent disappointment that followed the Filipino Flash?s victory was one question begging an answer: Has Nonito Donaire made a Faustian bargain?
There was that brief buzz around the Big Apple when the Filipino Flash showed up in the press conference for his title fight against Omar Narvaez on Thursday with ?the devil? himself ? Victor Conte. There was not a chance to chew on the strange pairing then as there is now.
When I first arrived here Monday, I immediately heard Donaire raving about his rest and recovery regimen which he talked more often than his high-altitude training with Mike Bazzel.
When I finally got around to ask who was concocting this elixir for him, he mentioned Victor?s name. His direct quote: ?The controversial Victor Conte.?
Turns out their partnership was forged last year and has since spawned four sensational knockdowns: Manuel Vargas, Hernan Marquez, Vladimir Sidorenko and Fernando Montiel, one after another.
Donaire, too tall and powerful for the weight classes he was fighting in, has scored devastating KOs in the past ? Vic Darchinyan, Moruti Mthalane and Raul Martinez to name a few victims. So I?m not saying he was suddenly handed a magic potion that put a spell on his gloves.
But Donaire swears Conte?s contribution provided a dramatic improvement in his performance.
?[Conte cooked up] a no-calorie shake that helps you retain the protein you lost and make your body recover faster,? said Donaire. ?I feel great. Instead of training every day you can train three, four days a week and still stay in top shape.?
It?s supposed to heighten Donaire?s potential by allowing the body to quickly regain what was lost during intense workouts, thereby speeding up recovery.
