By Chris Robinson

Nonito Donaire was spotted inside of the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas, Nevada as he officially kicked off his training camp for his February 4th bout with former champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr.

The vacant WBO junior featherweight crown will be on the line for Donaire when he meets Vazquez at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas in an HBO-televised attraction that will serve as a co-feature to the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.-Marco Antonio Rubio middleweight championship bout.

With Donaire on this day was his trainer Robert Garcia as well as former world champion Morris East, who now works the mitts with Donaire in the absence of Jonathan Penalosa, who still appears to be in the Philippines sorting out some Visa issues.

Donaire sparred three rounds apiece with unbeaten Russian featherweight prospect Evgeny Gradovich and Oxnard, California-based lightweight Javier ‘Pelos’ Garcia. The action was pretty brisk for the first day of camp and things should only pick up from here on out.

For more exclusive images of Nonito Donaire in training please visit the slideshow on and check out Donaire opens up Vegas camp for Vazquez Jr. clash

Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached at Trimond@aol.com and www.Twitter.com/CRHarmony