Donaire, dad reunite for Darchinyan fight

MANILA, Philippines - Former three-time world champion Nonito Donaire Jr. is back training with his once-estranged father Nonito Sr. and the family teamwork that cursed Vic Darchinyan six years ago is expected to haunt the grizzled Armenian veteran in a much-awaited rematch at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, this Saturday night (Sunday morning, Manila).

In 2007, Donaire captured his first world title by knocking out Darchinyan with a single picture-perfect left hook to the jaw in the fifth round to wrest the IBF flyweight crown in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Both fighters went on to claim two more world titles before finally, getting together in a return grudge bout that has been a long time coming.

Donaire, 30, and Darchinyan, 37, are making their debut in the featherweight division. While their fight offers no title at stake and is scheduled for only 10 rounds, it is considered highly critical. The outcome will determine who between them is advancing to battle for another world title.

“My goal is to fight for the world championship,” said Donaire who has claimed titles in the flyweight, bantamweight and superbantamweight divisions with an interim championship as a superflyweight. “I’m still a top contender regardless. My focus is game-planning and strategy. Before, my focus was in reducing weight, that was all in my mind. Now, things are different. I’m comfortable as a featherweight.”

Donaire said he’ll go for a knockout when the opportunity comes just like it did when he poleaxed Darchinyan in 2007. “I look for a knockout in every fight,” he said. “If it comes, given the opportunity, I’m definitely going for it. If it doesn’t come, I’ll take that, too. I’m going for the win.”

Donaire’s father Nonito Sr. was in his son’s corner for the first Darchinyan battle. They became estranged down the road but now, the partnership is back. With Donaire’s trainer Robert Garcia preoccupied in getting Brandon Rios ready for Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino Flash has spent a lot of time in the gym with his father. Donaire, however, has also made time to work out with Garcia in his Oxnard, California, gym, so it’s not as if they’ve been completely split. Donaire’s father said his focus is to make the Flash more accurate in delivering his punches.

Last April, Donaire knocked down Cuba’s Guillermo Rigondeaux in the 10th round but couldn’t finish off the slickster who breezed to a win by a unanimous decision. The jolting loss snapped a winning streak of 30 fights. He took a layoff to address a shoulder problem and spent time to be with his wife Rachel and their newly born son Jarel.

“Training camp has been great,” said Donaire quoted by Ryan Burton in boxingscene.com. “I’ve been training with Robert and my dad, it’s great working with both. I’m always happy to be in the ring. It doesn’t matter who my opponent is. I just want to fight the best. It feels good fighting at 126. I don’t have to worry about the week of the fight where I would have to cut down almost 10 pounds. Now, I can focus on the game-plan and not cutting weight.”

Darchinyan, a three-division world champion like Donaire, is coming off back-to-back wins over Luis del Valle and Javier Gallo. Donaire said he respects the southpaw as a dangerous opponent.

Darchinyan said he took Donaire lightly in their first encounter and paid the price. “I didn’t know who he was six years ago,” said the Armenian who fights with an awkward, crab-like style. “I made him. No one ever heard of him. He was the No. 8 or 9 contender. Everyone knows if he didn’t get me with the left hook, I would knock him out. I was coming out for a big punch. It was my first loss and after that, I became undisputed champion. I proved to everyone that it was my mistake in the Donaire fight. I waited for this fight six years and Gary Shaw couldn’t put it, thanks to Top Rank, they gave me a rematch.”

Darchinyan said things will be different when they face off again. “This time, I’ll use my skill,” he told Armenian media. “I know he is scared and chicken. I am coming to prove it. I’ve been in with him, I know how scared he is of my punches. I will come and demolish him. I’m coming to destroy and break him.”

Darchinyan has lost decisions to Abner Mares, Joseph Agbeko, Anselmo Moreno and Shinsuke Yamanaka but his only knockout defeat was to Donaire. His chance for payback will come this weekend. Donaire is out to prove his first win was no fluke.