Better this way: No father-son boxing reunion for Donaires soon

Nonito Donaire Sr. is part of Manny Pacquiao’s corner versus Lucas Matthysse. Photo by Mark Giongco

KUALA LUMPUR—Don’t expect a father-son boxing reunion between the Donaires happening anytime soon.

Nonito Donaire Sr. feels it’s best for him and his son Nonito Jr. to stay on separate terms as far as the boxing career of the four-division champion is concerned.

“I-remain na lang natin na ganito kasi mas maganda relasyon namin sa ganito kaysa nagsasama na hindi kami maligaya parehas so mas maganda na ganito na lang,” Nonito Sr., who is currently part of Manny Pacquiao’s corner as assistant trainer, said on Tuesday when asked if he would want to be in his son’s corner again if given a chance.

(Let’s keep our relationship this way rather than the two of us are together and we’re not happy. It’s better for us this way.)

The two had an acrimonious falling out in 2009 before reconciling four years later. But their second run together lasted for only three years after the elder Donaire resigned as head trainer in 2016.

The former undisputed featherweight champion went 6-1 from 2013 to 2016 under the guidance of his father and has since dropped two of his last three fights including a unanimous decision defeat to Carl Frampton almost three months ago in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

The loss to Frampton has prompted Nonito Jr. (38-5, 24 KOs) to drop back down to 118 pounds, a move that his father seemingly approves of.

Nonito Sr. believes his son still has a lot left in his tank.

“He doesn’t abuse his body. He just needs to do great in training.”

The 35-year-old Nonito Jr. will reportedly make his return to the bantamweight division later in the year in the World Boxing Super Series, pitting him against the top fighters in the weight class in a single-elimination tournament.