Nonito Donaire is Ready For Anything Concepcion Brings
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire is ready for anything Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion brings into the ring when the former IBF/IBO flyweight champion seeks to assert “Pinoy Power” in the Top Rank fight card at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in a fight card to be telecast by Solar Sports and GMA 7.
Donaire who battles Concepcion for the WBA super flyweight/junior bantamweight interim title told BoxingScene.com, insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports that while he enjoys an advantage in speed, experience and power he is taking nothing away from Concepcion who won the interim title in 2008 with a stunning 10th round knockout of world-rated Filipino prospect AJ “Bazooka” Banal who was leading on the scorecards of all three judges when the end came.
Donaire said Concepcion is a tough guy who has “a lot of heart and can take a punch.” He noted that fighters like Concepcion who have heart are the “most difficult to fight” and he is expecting a tough challenge from the Panamanian.
Concepcion has proven in his past fights that he never gives up and this was demonstrated in his fight against Banal which is something Donaire noticed.
Donaire whose biggest win was a spectacular 5th round stoppage of cocky Vic Darchinyan with one vicious hook shot on July 7, 2007 believes that no matter what happens he is “ready f or anything Concepcion comes with” and has trained hard for his first bout in a higher weight division which is more comfortable than having to struggle to make the flyweight limit of 112 pounds.
Donaire who began training with former two-division world champion Dodie Boy Penalosa and his brother Jonathan for his IBF/IBO flyweight title defense against previously unbeaten Raul “Cobra” Martinez who he stopped in four rounds after decking the challenger twice in round one, once in round three and one more time in round four says the Penalosa brothers are sharpening everything his estranged father who handled his career until before the Martinez fight, had taught him.
He said the Penalosa brothers drive him to train hard and leave the decision-making in the ring to him which he is obviously comfortable with.
Donaire who has been working out at the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas in the past few days will be joined in the fight capital of the world on Monday, Manila Time, by Concepcion who has been training hard at the Pedro “Rockero” Alcazar gym in Panama under trainer Rigoberto G aribaldi.
Garibaldi has concentrated on improving the defensive skills of Concepcion and was quoted as saying that Concepcion is now “stronger, faster and with more u,pper body movement” than when he beat Banal.
He also noticed that in his recent fights Concepcion was “taking too many punches before winning by knockout” which would be extremely dangerous against Donaire who, despite his weight, packs dynamite in his fists.
The exciting Top Rank card also features hard-hitting Bernabe Concepcion (29-1-1, 16 KO’s) going for the WBO featherweight title of the talented Steven Luevano (36-1-1, 15 KO’s) and light welterweight prospect Mark Jason Melligen (15-1-1, 11 KO’s) against heavy-handed 5’11” Michel Rosales (24-3, 21 KO’s) of Mexico.
