Donaire hooks up with Viloria's trainer for title defense

Nonito “The Filipino Flash" Donaire, Jr. has hooked up with the trainer of compatriot Brian Viloria for his defense of the World Boxing Association interim super flyweight title against Mexico’s Gerson Guerrero on Feb. 13 in Las Vegas. Donaire (22-1, 14 KOs) said Garcia, a former IBF super featherweight champion turned trainer, will help prepare his “mental game" against Guerrero (34-8 26 KOs).

The Peñalosa brothers, Jonathan and Dodie Boy, who trained Donaire when he won the WBA interim crown over an overweight Rafael Concepcion of Panama last August, will still be around and will join hands with Mike Bazzel in whipping Donaire into shape for the bout. “I added Robert Garcia to the team as the mental part of my game," Donaire wrote in his latest blog posted on his official website. “The Peñalosas are still with me and I respect them very much. But they will be working on my boxing conditioning, as well as Mike Bazzel working on my conditioning. I know people got confused. But Garcia is a very smart coach and I believe we can take my game to the next level together," he added. Garcia, who also counts Steven Luevano, Victor Ortiz and Joan Guzman among his fighters, is credited for guiding Viloria back to the boxing elite. Under Garcia, Viloria managed to rediscover his competitive fire and snag the IBF light-flyweight strap from long-time champ Ulises Solis last April via 11th round KO last April. He retained the strap with his unanimous decision disposal of Mexico’s Jesus Iribe four months later in Hawaii. Donaire will topbill Pinoy Power 3 at the Las Vegas Hilton, a power-packed card that also features veteran Gerry Peñalosa against Eric Morel in a WBO bantamweight eliminator; Ciso Morales against WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel; and Bernabe Concepcion against Puerto Rico’s Mario Santiago in a 10-round featherweight showdown. - GMANews.TV