Donaire Targets Omar Nino For 2007

By Rey Danseco
 
Glenn Donaire will continue his quest for world title next year despite suffering a broken right jaw from his failed attempt to become a world champion.

In an exclusive interview yesterday from San Leandro in California, Donaire’s father-trainer Nonito Donaire Sr. is optimistic that his eldest son will recover from injury.

As second opinion, doctors from Kaiser Permanente in Oakland has adviced Donaire Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) to rest for three months before going back to gym on January 2007.

It was good news for the 26-year old fighter, who was born in General Santos City, because he was adviced by Doctor Cameron Bird of Valley Hospital Medical Center in Shadow Lane, Las Vegas to put a wire in his jaw through surgery.

“It wasn’t dislocated, so there’s no need to put a wire. The doctor (from Kaiser Permanente) commended Glenn’s decision to quit because had he continued to fight he might get hurt and dislocate his jaw which might need a surgery and prolonge his resting period,” said Donaire, who revealed his son will move back to light flyweight, the same division of former world champ Brian Viloria.

 “At the time his (Glenn) jaw is back to normal, Omar Nino will be his next possible foe if he is still the 108 (pounds) champion, according to his manager. Glenn is small at 112 (lbs),” said Donaire referring to the current WBC light flyweight champion Omar Nino of Mexico.

Nino captured the world title in 108-pound division from erstwhile champ and previously unbeaten Viloria with a convincing unanimous decision win last August.

The 5-foot-4 boxer nicknamed “Filipino Bomber” and “Matador” lost Saturday night against International Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organization flyweight champ Vic Darchinyan in Las Vegas.

Donaire caught several times with left punches from southpaw Darchinyan, who scored a knockdown with right hand in round 4 en route to acquire a technical decision win after Donaire couldn’t take the pain anymore and surrendered at 1:27 of round 6.

Donaire insisted that an elbow in round two caused his injury, but Darchinyan claimed legal blows broke the San Leandro-based Filipino’s jaw and suggested his win should be declared by knockout.

In the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test result conducted few hours after the fight by Dr. Bird, he found out that ring-side doctor Jeff Davidson’s suspicion was true that Donaire suffered a broken jaw.

It was the second time Donaire has broken his jaw. During his early campaign as a pro, the left side of his jaw was first broken. It was aggrevated during sparring session at the Bebot Elorde Gym in Sucat, Paranaque City in his 5-fight unbeaten Philippine campaign from December 2001 until October 2003.

A record from Paranaque City Medical Center in Manila showed that Donaire had injury.

“His previous injury was the left side (jaw),” said Donaire, who insisted that it was already healed. And his son had no problem with the left side of his jaw.

“I know he (Glenn) took lot of punches in the face but he’s not hurt. I asked him ‘are you okay?’ he replied ‘Darchinyan has no power’,” said Donaire. “When he was elbowed, he said there’s something wrong (heard a snapped) in his jaw. Felt like he was pulled a tooth.”

Donaire revealed that their fight plan was to wear down the aging Australian-Armenian champ in the first six rounds.

“In our fight plan, we’ll attack after sixth round because he (Darchinyan) may be tired, unfortunately we’re caught by lucky punches,” said Donaire.