Photo by Marc Anthony Reyes
MANILA, Philippines — Former three-division champion Nonito Donaire Jr., is slated to arrive Monday to begin training for his WBA and IBO super featherweight title fight against holder Simpiwe Vetyeka of South Africa on May 31.
The 31-year-old Donaire (32-2-0 with 21 knockouts) is visiting his birthplace for the first time since his defeat to Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux last April in New York City.
He bounced back by stopping Vic Darchinyan for the second time in the ninth round last year while trailing in all scorecards.
Donaire will spend the next few weeks training under his father Nonito Sr., with whom he had reconciled after several years of a highly publicized family spat.
Trainer Robert Garcia oversees his training by long distance and only handles him in the last stretch of preparation for a bout.
He is also expected to accept recognition during the Elorde Awards next week. Donaire is out to prove critics, who said he had lost his fire, wrong when he battles Vetyeka (26-2-0 with 26 KOs) in Macau.
It will be the first time in eight fights that giant network HBO won’t carry him live.
Donaire’s handler, Top Rank, said his fight with lesser-known but potentially dangerous Vetyeka will be aired Saturday afternoon in the United States as a curtai n-raiser to the Carl Froch-George Groves duel in London.