Nonito Donaire fires Robert Garcia... Employs his dad

[FinitoElDinamita]

MANILA, Philippines — In more ways than one, Nonito Donaire Jr. is going back to his roots.

Admitting that his one-punch game-plan is not going to work in the long run, Donaire said Tuesday he will employ a different strategy in his career that also involved replacing renowned Mexican trainer Robert Garcia with his father, Nonito Sr., as trainer.

Donaire (32-2-0 with 21 knockouts) held a presser to announce his May 31 title fight against World Boxing Association champion Simpiwe Vetyeka of South Africa (26-2-0 with 15 KOs) at Venetian Macau. The fight will be carried by ABS-CBN and HBO.

The 31-year-old Donaire said last year was “the crossroads of my career where I questioned myself, is this what’s important to me? Or have I reached the pinnacle of my career.”

Seated beside him at Edsa Shangri-La ballroom was his father, who will train him for the first time since 2007.

Donaire Sr. had a much-publicized feud with his son but patched things up before Nonito stopped Vic Darchinyan last year. Donaire struggled against Darchinyan before his vaunted left hook bailed him out in the 9th.

Earlier that year, he lost his 122 titles to Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux, who exposed Donaire’s unhealthy reliance on landing a big punch instead of throwing combinations.

Now, Donaire said he and his father will focus on his old “cerebral style.”

“With my father at my side, we can unleash my full potential, my true potential,” he said.

- Marc Anthony Reyes

[Ron Swanson]

I don't blame Garcia but Donaire has had a terrible approach for a long time now. Hopefully he stops loading up and lets his hands go. Rigondeaux would work him again but others should not.

[FinitoElDinamita]

I don't blame Garcia but Donaire has had a terrible approach for a long time now. Hopefully he stops loading up and lets his hands go. Rigondeaux would work him again but others should not.

I don't think Garcia should be accountable.. I doubt he told Nonito to abandon the jab and look for one punch.

One thing I didnt like though was how he trained Nonito over the " cellphone " instead of training him for real. lol

Nonito has a big ego and he seems to like having alot of yes man around him.. First he fired his dad for Garcia and now he's canning him to back to his dad..

[Violent Demise]

Donaire is loss waiting to happen.

[Tam Seddon]

Donaire is loss waiting to happen.

It happened

[boxing prospect]

Is this actually a new story? He's been with his dad at the ALA Gym in the Philippines this week sparring with a Cuban kid.