NONITO DONAIRE, FEAR NO ONE

www.Fil-AmBoxers.com, January 21, 2010

 
Photo by Rod Mijares


Nonito Donaire Jr. smiled last night as his wife placed a laptop on the table presenting the headline, “Nonito Donaire Jr got ‘no balls’ to fight big names, says one promoter.” The article, written by Simeon Vergara, illustrates a nameless promoter that accuses Nonito of ducking quality opponents. It also quoted Israel Vasquez calling out Nonito Donaire, and going as far as pondering if Nonito’s wife has something to do with the matching of Guerson Guerrero.
 
It is really sad to see that this ‘writer’ had not done his proper research before reporting on such a topic.

Nonito Donaire Jr, number 6 on Ring Magazine’s pound for pound list, and WBA Interim Champion, has been quoted numerous times calling out big names in and around his weight division. As a flyweight, after capturing the IBF and IBO belts from Vic Darchinyan, he called out Japan’s Naito and Sakata in hopes to unify the titles. But it never materialized. Moving up to superflyweight his dreams are the same, capture all the titles and move up in weight. Trying to break into the higher weight, Nonito served challenges to the likes of Montiel, Arce, and even welcomed a rematch with Darchinyan. He welcomed, let alone rolled out the red carpet with a sign that read, “Come one, Come all!” so he could accomplish his goals and prove he deserves to be in the pound for pound rankings. But alas, no one answered.

Nonito smiled like a little boy when he read Israel Vasquez was calling him out. “I’m honored, you know? I mean, growing up in boxing I never thought my name would be on the tongues of top named fighters. I hear my name here and there and it gets me going. I love the challenge.”

Nonito has been managed by Cameron Dunkin since 2005 and speaks nothing but praises of his current manager. “Cameron looks out for me. I put all my trust in him as far as my career goes. Whatever he decides, I go with.” Cameron has the same sediment about his fighter. “Nonito is a great fighter. He’s had a wishlist for awhile now of fighters he wanted to meet in the ring. Nonito is ready to fight anyone I put infront of him. You’ll never hear Nonito backdown. I guarantee it.”

When we talked to Rachel, we asked her why she selected Guerson Guerrero as Nonito’s next opponent. She couldn’t stop laughing. “That isn’t my job. I’m not his manager, Cameron is. You know what my job is? Waking up at 5am, picking up the sparring opponents for jogging, bringing them back to the house, returning them to the hotel, and doing that whole routing for afternoon practice. I do the laundry, clean, grocery, whatever he needs me to do. But I guarantee you that it has nothing to do with boxing.” What about barring Nonito from media contacts? “Really? I mean if he’s sleeping I’m not waking him up, if that’s what you mean. I think its rude for those who ask me to wake him up for an interview. But ask Mario Serrano who had an scheduled interview with Nonito yesterday or Ronnie Nathanielz, Quinito Henson—who are half way across the world and yet seem to still get interviews. Who says this stuff anyway?” When we told her it was a nameless promoter, she laughed again. “Nameless? As in nonexistent or scared? It’s easy to talk when they hide behind the shadows instead of coming out and saying what they need to say to your face. I would have respected them more if an actual person stood behind his name.”

Nonito is never shocked at his wife’s bluntness. “She’s a strong willed woman. I love her for that. She is a blessing in my life and knows her place by my side. She doesn’t interfere with my boxing, no matter what people think they know. And as far as what this ‘writer’ thinks he knows about the distance with my dad, he is blind enough not to see my dedicated fight to him, and my persistence to show him respect by mano-ing him everytime I see him regardless of our different views. He is still my dad.” Apparently hitting a soft topic, Nonito changes his tone.

“Well wouldn’t it be funny for me to call out a 105 pounder like Donnie Nietes? You’d say it’s a ten pound difference right? Same with me and Israel Vasquez. He’s 122 pounds. And as much as I am flattered that he called me out, I hope after I climb the weights and the contract is infront of him, he doesn’t hesitate to sign it.

DONAIRE'S MEDIA WORKOUT MIRRORS
HIS SKILLS AND HIS STRENGTH

by Rod Mijares, LV Valley Balita and Viva Las Vegas magazine
October 28, 2008

Photos by Rod Mijares

Nonito arrived with his Team Donaire at the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas today full of hope and confidence that he is going to win in his upcoming fight this Saturday on November 1^st, 2008 at Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino.  His opponent who is relatively unknown outside of South Africa but with quite impressive records on paper with 22 wins, 15 by way of KO or TKO under 7 rounds or less with only one loss is South African flyweight champion, Moruti “Baby Face” Mthalane. 

Mthalane earned to fight Donaire after his impressive win against Australian Hussein Hussein last July 5, 2008 in their title eliminator bout.  At stake is Donaire’s IBF and IBO Flyweight titles and by the way Donaire’s better than superb workout today, those titles are for Nonito to keep for a long time.

Donaire stopped for a friendly chat with Jorge Arce who was also at Top Rank Gym in preparation for his WBA World Super Flyweight fight against Isidro Garcia on the same bout and posed for some pictures.   He is hoping that if both of them are going to win on Saturday, Top Rank Promotion will line them up against each other for a fight at Super Flyweight.

“We have studied a lot of videos of the fights of Mthalane and we came up with a game plan and strategy,” Gary Cagaanan, Donaire’s adviser said who was also with Morris East, former Filipino WBA world light welterweight champion and also part of Team Donaire.

“Whatever he brings to the table, Donaire will have an answer for it.  Mthalane is a volume puncher, they are both straight forward and don’t back up.  But we see things that we can take advantage of,” continued Cagaanan.

Nonito’s workout maybe light to others.  But the way he released those left hooks, no wonder the former undefeated flyweight champion, Vic Darchinyan was stunned and tasted the agony of a good knockout kissing the canvas on his way to the reality of his first and unbelievable defeat.  His father and trainer, Nonito, Sr., was quite happy with the way Nonito, Jr. reacted as he barked instructions in Cebuano dialect.   He responded with volume punches and combinations, good defense and flashy footworks.

“With his humble beginning from his birthplace in Bohol and growing up in the barrio of General Santos City, Manny Pacquiao’s home town, before migrating to America, Nonito remains humble.   That’s the overall potential of his appeals, although, he came to America when he was just a young boy, he is still very much Pinoy, that’s his pride, his heritage,” Cagaanan said of Nonito.

Pride it is that Filipinos in America, especially, in the Philippines and other parts of the world should support their very own, the “Filipino Flash” in Nonito Donaire, Jr., a world class champion, this coming Saturday at Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino.  It’s the Filipino fans presence on every Filipino boxer’s fight outside of the Philippines that inspire them to work and fight harder for honor and glory.  Nonito, no doubt has the blood of Flash Elorde, who knows his roots, who doesn’t forget where he came from and whose success he owes to his Filipino fans and come fight night another Filipino flag will surely rise to the occasion for the world to see.