By Dennis 'dSource' Guillermo
While I was at the Nonito Donaire, Jr. camp in San Mateo a couple of week ago, I noticed some familiar faces missing in action, such as trainers Robert Garcia and Jonathan Penalosa. Donaire told me that his two trusted cornermen should be on their way to rejoin camp soon.
Garcia, who serves as Donaire's head trainer, will definitely be back in camp to help break down the game plan for Omar Narvaez in New York on October 22, but Penalosa is a different story.
According to the Donaires, Penalosa's working visa has been denied, and will not be able to join their camp in San Mateo for the first time since joining Donaire in 2008 while preparing for Raul Martinez. Penalosa's main responsibility is holding the mitts for Donaire.
Now, Donaire is scampering to get a replacement for a mitts trainer, while he plays catch-up for his first title defense against the undefeated, crafty and skilled Argentinian Narvaez. Some names Donaire is considering include his father Nonito Donaire, Sr., who is also currently busy training his brother Glen for his comeback fight, former world champion and Zab Judah's mitts coach Morris East, and a couple of other local trainers in the area.