Donaire Picks Up The Pace in Camp For Concepcion Bout

Jul 8, 2009 • 12:00 AM ET

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire has had “a very good day” as he slowly picked up preparations for his WBA super flyweight interim title fight against tough Panamanian Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on August 15.

In a conversation with BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports, Donaire said he “ran in the morning, did a few rounds on the mitts and a lot of plyometrics” which is what Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao turned to under conditioning expert Ariza to give him the explosiveness that was evident in his demolition of David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya and Ricky Hatton.

Donaire said he started doing plyometrics while training in Baguio City for his IBF/IBO flyweight title defense against Raul “Cobra” Martinez over whom he scored a spectacular 4th round TKO after dropping the previously undefeated fighter twice in round one, once in round three and one more time in round four.

He said his wife Rachel who is a taekwondo champion taught him the routine. Donaire said he was “feeling very good and feeling very happy so far and when I asked to go more than four rounds on the mitts my trainer said no.”Jonathan Penalosa, brother of former two division world champions Gerry and Dodie Boy Penalosa is working with Donaire at his training camp.

Donaire said Concepcion is tough and keeps coming at you but the question is “can he take my punches?” Donaire has a 5th round, one punch knockout over Vic “The Raging Bull” Drachinyan to his name and is considered one of the hardest hitting fighters in the lighter weights with his power accentuated by his speed.

Donaire said that after his workout he tipped the scales at 125 pounds which was fine at this stage of his preparation for the Concepcion fight.

Donaire who has a variety of punches and remarkable skill said he is reconsidering an earlier plan to train at the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach. Donaire said he had spoken to IBF light flyweight champion Brian Viloria’s trainer Robert Garcia who told him there were a lot of sparring partners for him at the Oxnard gym also in California “so I might go out there instead and train with Brian (Viloria).”