Nonito Donaire's father could've helped in the Inoue rematch, says analyst

Veteran boxing analyst Atty. Ed Tolentino is convinced that the presence of Nonito Donaire Sr. would have helped Nonito Donaire Jr. when he fought the unified bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue in the rematch.

Donaire, 39, suffered a second-round knockout at the hands of Inoue in their second meeting this past Tuesday at the Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. According to Tolentino, the presence of Donaire’s old trainer and father would have been a welcome sight.

“There were many trainers who handled Donaire, and of course lately, Rachel was the one listed as his trainer. The father is different in my opinion. I was surprised to not even see his shadow in the corner. I was looking for at least for the father to be there,” Tolentino said.

“I thought the father would have done well because they were the tandem from the beginning. When the legend of the Filipino Flash was being molded, it was the father who did the molding. It would have been good for him to be there.”

Donaire Sr. was in charge when his son fought Inoue for the first time in 2019. Even though they lost, Donaire nevertheless exceeded expectations when he gave the Japanese the toughest bout of his career in a contest that was touted as fight of the year.

Donaire’s wife Rachel took over as his trainer after that loss and led her husband to become a world champion again highlighted by a two-fight winning streak. Nevertheless, Tolentino is convinced that it would be best for the team to come together in the twilight of Donaire’s career.

“Rachel did her work, she made Nonito a champion again, but the father was the one who molded Nonito when was still clay. It cannot be bad for him to be there especially now that every fight could be his last,” Tolentino stressed.

“It would have been good if as he tiptoes his way to possible retirement, they are all there. Would have it made a difference? We do not know because Inoue's performance was overwhelming.”

—JMB, GMA News