SAN ANTONIO – “Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire is already celebrated among boxing insiders for his hand speed, footwork, power and charisma. Now insiders have one more gift of Donaire’s to celebrate: an eye for talent.
Wednesday at ChampionFit Gym, Donaire conducted an open workout for fans and media, as part of promotional festivities for his Saturday super bantamweight title fight with Puerto Rican Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. at Alamodome. After light stretching, Donaire invited two local boys to join him in the ring. The first one demurred, but the second bound through the ropes.
Seeing the boy was a southpaw, Donaire held his right hand aloft and ordered jab, double-jab, and jab-cross combinations. After four combos, Donaire had seen enough, looked at the ringside crowd, and said, “He’s going to be good!”
Turned out, he already is. Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez was the youngster Donaire thrilled and complimented Wednesday, not knowing that in offering his bare hand to the diminutive Rodriguez, Donaire was absorbing blows from a 2012 National Silver Gloves finalist. Rodriguez was in the gym with his dad to see Donaire – Rodriguez’s favorite fighter – before leaving later in the day for Missouri, where he will compete for a national title.
Also present to supervise Donaire’s open workout was former world champion Jesse James Leija, owner of ChampionFit Gym. Leija watched Donaire work with trainer Robert Garcia and spoke about his own experience of a handpad workout with Donaire earlier in the week.
“He kicks like a mule,” Leija said. “He has power and speed, and what I really like is that he says, ‘I love trying new things.’”
Asked if he thought Donaire had a high ring IQ, Leija was emphatic.
“Very!” he said. “You can’t do the things he does without knowing.”
For his part, Donaire was confident but humble, answering questions for local media before climbing in the ring and entertaining gathered fans. Unsurprisingly, based on his roots and promoter, Donaire was asked several times to compare himself to Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao.
“If you ask me (who’s better), I am going to tell myself that I am,” Donaire said, before clarifying that such self-belief is essential to any successful prizefighter.
Asked about trash-talking and being disrespectful of opponents, Donaire was animated.
“I respect my guys,” he said. “I respect everyone. I don’t do that sh-t.”
Donaire and Vazquez Jr. will join headliners Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and Marco Antonio Rubio for a Friday weigh-in, before Saturday’s event. Friday’s trip to the scales will be held in front of the Alamo at 2:00 PM CT. It is open to the public.
