‘Flash’ to bank on power, speed vs Concepcion

MANILA, Philippines – It’s his first time to fight at super-flyweight (115-lbs) but Nonito Donaire, Jr. is confident he can bring with him the power that made him successful in the flyweight (112-lbs) division. Such natural power, plus speed, would be Donaire’s main weapons when the “Filipino Flash" takes on Panama’s Rafael Concepcion for the interim World Boxing Association (WBA) super-flyweight title on Aug. 15. “Right now my power is increasing. It’s getting up there. I know three pounds might not be a lot to you guys but to me, it’s more power and muscle on my body," Donaire told FightHype.com. “My speed is definitely going to be one of the keys to beating him (Concepcion). I’m confident in my power. If I land it, he’s going to feel it. If he doesn’t go down, he’s going to feel it. If all my punches land on his face, he’s going to be bloodied up," he added. For his showdown with Concepcion dubbed “Pinoy Power 2," Donaire has set up camp at the Undisputed Boxing Gym in San Carlos, California under the watchful eyes of trainers Jonathan and Dodie Boy Peñalosa and strength trainer Michael Basel.
For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV “I’m working on my speed right now because I’m really confident in my power…It (power) is not so much that I’ve been working on because I think it comes natural because of the way I throw my punches. I put all of my body into my punches but with speed, we’re really working on it," he bared. Last Wednesday, the 26-year-old Donaire started his sparring sessions, initially at four rounds, with Salinas, California-based Pinoy fighter, featherweight “Rapid Fire" Glenn Gonzales. The Bohol-born Donaire got all the more pumped up in training when he held a public workout over the weekend. “I just felt the fire inside of me when everyone was watching me. It pushed me to train hard. Whew! I was gasping for air but I was just motivated to bust open the mitts Jonathan was holding for me," Donaire wrote in his blog for his official website, FilipinoFlash.com. “People were clapping each round that went by. I guess they were impressed by the speed and power but most of all, the way I pushed myself. And then I went to the double end and pretty much the whole time I was training they were there around me. I never had a public workout like that before with so much support. Everyone was having such a good time. Everything was going really well," he added. Donaire(21-1, with 14 KOs)is climbing up to the 115-lb wars after successfully defending the International Boxing Federation (IBF)/International Boxing Organization (IBO) 112-lb belts that he won via a stunning KO of rugged Vic Darchinyan in 2007. Concepcion (13-3-1), for his part, looks to make a name for himself by stunning the Ring Magazine’s No. 7 pound-for-pound rated fighter in their showdown at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. - GMANews.TV