By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire has postponed his departure for Baguio City to set-up training camp until Wednesday. The team was originally scheduled to leave for the summer capital which is 5,100 feet above sea level, today.
The delay in leaving for Baguio was because WBO bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa has yet to get the permission of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines officials to use the ABAP training camp in Baguio City where both Donaire and Penalosa will train for upcoming fights.
Donaire said “I left it up to Gerry. We were supposed to leave today but he couldn’t get in contact with anybody so most likely we will go on Wednesday.”
Donaire is scheduled to move up to 115 pounds to take on WBO super flyweight champion Fernando Montiel in a title fight headlining a blockbuster championship double-header promoted by Top Rank in cooperation with Solar Sports at the Araneta Coliseum on March 15.
Penalosa, on the other hand, is waiting for the results of the January 12 Purse Bid for his mandatory title defense against former WBA flyweight champion Erik Morel of Puerto Rico which is expected to take place in April.
Donaire made it clear he isn’t taking it easy because Morel “is a tough guy so I will train as hard as I can. “
Penalosa earlier clarified his role in the Donaire training camp saying it would be his brother, former world champion Dodie Boy Penalosa who will handle Donaire’s training while another brother Jonathan would take care of the punch mitts while he would merely spot any mistakes being made by the youthful Filipino and work with Donaire on fight strategy.
