Nonito “Dodong” Donaire Sr. revealed on Saturday that he is no longer the trainer of his son Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. because of personal reasons that he didn’t elaborate.

“We already talked and everything went fine with our separation as a trainer and coach,” Donaire Sr. told The Manila Times on Saturday via overseas call from the US. “I decided to take a rest for the meantime and devote my time to my family. This is my own decision.”





The younger Donaire, the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight champion with a win-loss record of 37-3 with 24 knockouts, is scheduled to fight American Jessie Magdaleno in the US, according to Top Rank boss Bob Arum.

Dodong said that besides training boxers, he also works as a welder in California. “I have another job. I’m also a welder, but I’m not retiring as boxing trainer. I still train other boxers.”

He also believes his son could give the undefeated Magdaleno (23-0 record with 17 knockouts) his first loss.

“I’m very confident he will beat Magdaleno if he will train very hard. I have no doubt in his ability as a world titleholder. He is a true world-class champion. My support and prayers will always be with him,” said the older Donaire.

The five-division world champion is coming off a technical knockout victory over Zsolt Bedak of Hungary last April 24 in Cebu City.

Dodong said that his son is yet to name his new trainer, “I have no idea who will take my place. We haven’t talked about it yet but I’m sure somebody will train him.”

Before Dodong became the full-time trainer of his son in 2014, three-time Trainer of the Year Robert Garcia was the chief trainer of Donaire Jr. Garcia trained other prominent boxers among them Brandon Rios, Marcos Maidana and Evgeny Gradovich.

Under the tutelage of his father, Donaire won five of his six recent fights. He scored a technical decision win against Simpiwe Vetyeka of South Africa in April 2014 to capture the World Boxing Association world featherweight crown in Macau.

Donaire’s only loss during his father’s watch came from Jamaican Nicholas Walters, who beat him via sixth round technical knockout in October 2014. But Donaire returned with a four-fight winning streak to become a world champion again.

He defeated William Prado via second round technical knockout in Manila in March 2015. He scored another technical knockout win over Anthony Settoul in July 2015 in Macau.

He won via unanimous decision against Mexican Cesar Juarez in December 2015 in Puerto Rico to regain the WBO super bantamweight belt. He then thumped Bedak in his first title defense.

JOSEF T. RAMOS