Nonito Donaire Sr. leaves Nonito Jr.'s team

Chris Farina/Top Rank (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--Nonito Donaire Sr. announced on Monday his decision to resign as the head trainer of his son, Nonito Jr.

In a statement on Monday, the father of the "Filipino Flash" said, "I've been grateful to work for Jun's corner for the past couple of years. I am happy to have been there as a trainer and father when he recaptured his world titles. But I decided to resign as head trainer and go back to the Bay Area."

This is not the first time Nonito Sr. left Nonito Jr.'s camp as the older Donaire had a rift with the younger Donaire in 2009, leading to the former bolting out. The father-and-son tandem, however, reconciled four years later.

This time around, no bad blood took place as the current WBO super bantamweight champion, in a statement later Monday, revealed that they had a hearty conversation where his dad expressed his desire of quitting.

"He is an amazing trainer and an even better father. I wish him the best of luck in the path he chooses. And of course he will be ringside at my next fight. Salamat kaayo, Pang," Nonito Jr. described his dad while assuring his presence will still be felt.
Meanwhile, about his son's lookout for his new coach, Nonito Sr. said, "I know he will find a trainer that will take him to the next level."

A reunion with Robert Garcia could be a possible option for Nonito Jr. Garcia was the younger Donaire's trainer when the father first left Team Donaire.

The former IBF Jr. lightweight titlist won the BWAA Trainer of the Year in 2012, the same year the said sportswriters' union named Nonito Jr. the Fighter of the Year.

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