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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Nonito Donaire lauds sparring partner Brandon Moreno for bagging UFC flyweight title

Nonito Donaire lauds sparring partner Brandon Moreno for bagging UFC flyweight title

Published Jun 13, 2021 08:47 pm

Filipino boxing icon and WBC bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire lauded his sparring partner Brandon Moreno for bagging the UFC flyweight title.

PARTNERS TO CHAMPIONS - WBC bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (left) and now UFC flyweight king Brandon Moreno strike a pose after a sparring session in this file photo. (Photo from Nonito Donaire's Twitter account)

Taking it to social media, Donaire took his time to congratulate his partner for the feat, two weeks after the Filipino pug became the WBC bantamweight king by dethroning Frenchman Nordine Oubaali.

"Odds were against us. But when they are, we show up. Congrats to my brother @theassassinbaby for getting what is yours," wrote the 38-year-old Donaire.

"Glad to have had camps side by side with you and sparred brother for this camp. So grateful I got to see you off after my fight before you took off for yours. An honor. I will see in Vegas my man."

READ: Donaire: Age is just a number

Moreno submitted Deiveson Figueiredo in the third round to capture the flyweight belt in UFC 263 at the Gila River Arena in Arizona, making him the first Mexican-born champion in UFC history.

Moreno and Donaire were sparring partners when the latter was preparing for his much-awaited comeback and title bout against Oubaali last May 29.

READ: Nonito Donaire: I'm hungry, extra motivated

In a way, the two helped each other to improve their arsenal in preparation for their respective matches.

A week prior to UFC 263, Donaire had visited Moreno and left some pieces of advice, this time with the WBC belt hanging on his shoulders.

READ: Moloney, Inoue's former foe, expresses desire to fight Donaire

And little did Moreno knew that he was about to grab a belt of his own at that time.

From sparring partners, Donaire and Moreno have shared a stronger bond by becoming world champions in their respective sports.

READ: Who is next for the 'Filipino Flash'?, Battle royale looms among Filipino kingpins in tough bantamweight class

Related Tags

Nonito Donaire WBC Deiveson Figueiredo Brandon Moreno UFC
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