By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Nonito Donaire Sr, the father of Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire said his son fought an “intelligent fight” against Panama’s tough Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion even as he suspected that Nonito Jr hurt his left hand early in the fight and that’s why he couldn’t win by a knockout.

Donaire Sr who trained his son and honed his skills to become world IBF/IBO flyweight champion but parted ways after an apparent misunderstanding following Donaire’s second title defense,  told BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that his son followed “what we worked on before. He did the right thing but he missed a lot of punches.”

While following the action on television, Donaire Sr said “I thought he had a problem with his hand and that is why he didn’t land his punches.”  Donaire noted that its his left hand which bothers him and although he’s power is in his left, “I know he has a pretty strong right hand too.”

Donaire Sr who is currently training undefeated 19 year old prospect “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona for his WBO super flyweight title fight against champion Jose “Carita” Lopez in Canada on September 4 said he felt Nonito could have knocked out Concepcion with a couple of right hands but decided to box him and stay out of trouble.

The father and former trainer said “the good thing is that he was in good shape and Concepcion couldn’t reach him” as he kept moving out of harm’s way.

At the same time Nonito Donaire Sr said that even though he and his son haven’t communicated with each other for some time now, he was “still very happy that he won.”

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is hoping that Donaire’s injured hand heals quickly enough so he could resume training and be ready for “Pinoy Power 3” which Arum plans to stage on December 12 with the possibility that Donaire may take on Mexican warrior Jorge Arce.

Arum is also planning another card on October 17 at the same venue, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas which drew a predominantly Filipino crowd for the fights headlined by Donaire’s WBA super flyweight interim title fight against Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion.