Donaire calls foe 'a dirty fighter'

WBA interim superflyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. with wife Rachel Ann upon their arrival at the NAIA terminal 2 yesterday from Los Angeles

MANILA, Philippines - Newly-crowned interim WBA superflyweight champion Nonito Donaire, Jr. said yesterday if he weighed anywhere close to what Rafael Concepcion did in their Las Vegas fight, the Panamanian would’ve been knocked out in the first round.

Sporting a welt under his right eye, Donaire arrived in Manila on board Philippine Airlines Flight 107 early yesterday morning to a hero’s welcome. He came with wife Rachel and trainers Dodie Boy and Jonathan Penalosa. The team received VIP treatment from airport authorities.

Donaire spent the day making guest appearances on various TV talk shows and taping two episodes of GMA’s new series “Celebrity Duets.” Today, he will be feted by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim in a motorcade then will visit former President Aquino’s family to give the yellow robe and trunks he wore for the Concepcion fight which he dedicated to the late Chief Executive.

Tomorrow, Donaire’s swollen left hand will be examined by sports medicine specialist Dr. Raul Canlas in Alabang. The country’s top hand specialists Dr. Noel Carillo of St. Luke’s and Dr. Ida Tacata of Makati Medical Center will likely be tapped to suggest a permanent solution to Donaire’s recurring hand problems.

Asked about Concepcion, Donaire minced no words in calling the Panamanian “a dirty fighter.”

“First of all, he had no intentions to make the superflyweight limit (115),” he said. “While I sacrificed and made the weight, he trained at his natural weight (122) and didn’t care if he made the superflyweight limit or not. All he wanted was to beat me. I could’ve cancelled the fight but he knew I wouldn’t because of my pride. Not personal pride but pride for our country.”

The difference in weight is more pronounced in the lower weight categories from minimumweight to lightweight. Gerry Penalosa, for instance, couldn’t bring down Juan Manuel Lopez in their WBO superbantamweight title fight last April because the two-time Filipino world champion, now a natural bantamweight, was too small for the much bigger Puerto Rican.

When Concepcion stepped into the ring to face Donaire last Saturday night, he weighed 134. Donaire was 122. The 12-pound difference meant Concepcion was three weight divisions higher.

Worse, Donaire said Concepcion used dirty tricks to slow him down. “When he jabbed, he stuck out his foot and stepped on me – it caused me to slip twice,” he said. “When he came close, he elbowed me. Then he butted me in the fourth round. My vision in the left eye was a blur for a few rounds because of that. On top of all that, I hurt my hand in the early rounds. It could’ve been as early as the first when I hit him hard on the head and he was staggered. That’s why I couldn’t put my combinations together. I could hit only once at a time.”

Donaire said he noticed in the ninth round, Concpecion’s power started to wane. “You saw his face,” he continued. “He was beat up, tired and bleeding. I really tried to knock him out but because he was so much bigger, he could take my power and besides, I couldn’t put too much behind my left hand because it hurt so bad.”

Donaire’s trainers the Penalosa brothers, who worked his corner with conditioning coach Mike Bazzel, said the fighter never complained about the hand throughout the fight.

“We knew he hurt his hand because he wasn’t throwing combinations,” said Dodie Boy. “But he never complained and we never asked him about it until after the fight. That kid has a lot of heart.”

Donaire said veteran Argentinian trainer Miguel Diaz wrapped his hands before the fight. Ordinarily, Donaire bandages his own hands but this time, he asked for a professional since he chose to use the new foamy Everlast “pro-tech” gloves. He said the wraps didn’t seem thick enough to protect his hands. Concepcion used the thin-foamed Everlast model which is similar to Cleto Reyes’ puncher’s gloves. Both gloves were eight-ouncers.

Two days after the fight, the swelling in his left hand was down but the front of his hand was red all over. He also said there was a slight pain in the palm of his right hand.

“I don’t think there’s a fighter at 115 who can take my power and speed but if you’re two or three weight classes higher, it’s a different story,” said Donaire. “If I build up to 122 and Concepcion stays at that weight, I promise you he won’t last one round with me.”

Donaire said he will submit the medical reports on his hands to Top Rank chairman Bob Arum and his manager Cameron Dunkin who are both based in Las Vegas. The extent of the damage, the repair work and the recovery period will determine how soon Donaire can fight again. He said he hopes to resume light workouts in two weeks and start heavy training in two months to stay on track for a possible fight against Mexico’s rugged Jorge Arce on Dec. 12 in “Pinoy Power 3” in Las Vegas.