Nonito Donaire: The Next Pacquiao?

Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire
IBO & IBF Flyweight Champion
Wins 19
Wins by KO 12
Losses 1
Draws 0

Nonito Donaire Warns: Filipinos Are Coming
By David A. Avila
sweetscience.com

Nonito The Filipino Flash Donaire hit the heavy bag with his usual flair in the crowded Hollywood boxing gym. Very few of the others realized that he was just days away from a world title fight.

None gave Donaire a chance of beating the fearsome Vic Darchinyan.

No matter, he continued his work.

The kid told me that he was going to knock Darchinyan out, said Cameron Dunkin, who manages Donaire. I felt he could beat him but he insisted he was going to knock him out.

When Donaire and Darchinyan met in July at the Harbour Yard Arena in Bridgeport, Conn. most felt it was a mere exercise to fill the time for the undefeated Armenian slugger. Especially after Donaires younger brother Glenn had been stopped in six rounds less than a year earlier.

Nonito told me he was going to walk him down and make him run into a left hand, said Dunkin reciting the conversation just before the fight. He did exactly what he said and he was exactly right.

The lean Filipino boxer proved he had the antidote for Darchinyans raging bull attack and repeatedly found the mark for his rights and lefts. By the fifth round it was evident that Donaires punches were as accurate as a cruise missile. They hit the mark every time.

That guy can take a punch, said Donaire of Darchinyan. I was hitting him and hitting him with good shots but he kept coming.

But a riveting left hook counter dropped Darchinyan for good and the IBF and IBO flyweight titles changed hands. Donaire became the second of three Filipinos to hold a world title. A month later Gerry Penalosa grabbed the WBO bantamweight belt from Mexicos Jhonny Gonzalez by knockout.

What do you do next?

Were trying to get one of the other flyweight champions to fight me, said Donaire, 24.

Donaires knockout victory probably woke up the other flyweight champions and junior bantamweight champions. Despite the constant smiles, the other boxers near his weight class definitely saw a fighter with great hand speed, good footwork and the power to crack a granite block with either hand.

This kid can crack, says Rick Smith, a boxing writer for a local boxing magazine. The way he put Darchinyan to sleep was a wake up call to everybody in his division.

The two other major flyweight world titles are possessed by Japanese fighters Daisuki Naito with the WBC flyweight title and Takefumi Sakata with the WBA flyweight title, but both are scheduled to defend their respective titles.

Its difficult getting the Japanese to fight Nonito Donaire, says Cameron Dunkin, who manages Donaire. Nonito is fast, hits hard and is just huge (in height) for the flyweight division. Hes huge for the super flyweight division too.

Donaire (18-1, 11 KOs), who was born in the Philippines and moved to California at age 10, now lives in Hayward, California. He still has a large family base in the Philippines.

Watch out for the other Filipino fighters, he warns.

Everybody knows Manny Pacquiao is the best, says Donaire. But there are a lot more Filipinos coming now.

Donaire predicts more world titles will be claimed by his countrymen in the near future after a long period where prizefighters from the island nation were virtually ignored.

Its not that we just started having good fighters from the Philippines, weve always had good fighters. We just never got the chance, said Donaire.

Edito Villamor, who trains many Filipino fighters, said the arrival of Pacquiao helped spark the current explosion of successful Filipino prizefighters.

Boxing is big in the Philippines, Villamor says.

Following Pacquiaos huge success, a number of boxing promotions have sent scouts and representatives scouring the Filipino islands. They know there are others with super talent.

In the past, Filipino fighters with good records were brought to this country with less than two weeks to prepare and lost. But those days are over.

Michael Domingo doesnt have a good record but when they gave him time to prepare properly he beat a good Mexican fighter who was undefeated, said Donaire Sr. of a fight that took place in Sacramento last Aug. 11 between Domingo and formerly undefeated Miguel Roman. Hes a good example of a Filipino fighter who can win if given enough time.

Now Donaire is one of three Filipinos who hold a world title and anxiously awaits his first title defense. But who will it be?

Team Donaire is now looking elsewhere for a suitable opponent.

Right now it looks like Nonito will be fighting the number one mandatory, says Nonito Donaire Sr. the father and co-trainer of his son. That fight might happen on Dec. 1.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• manny
• pacquiao
• nonito
• donaire
• pacman
• filipino
• flash
• knock
• out
• ko
• boser
• fighter
• champion

[tanzpogi]

cya nga ang susunod kay pacman...wag sa pagkababaero...hahaha

[poofkaboom]

@adrean85si ITs CALLED NO PROOF

[adrean85si]

@jayjoetube14 Its called STEROIDS!!

[AznWorldMusicLegend]

@aramapero Yes it is Philippines is matriarchal society...The female are the head of the household

[crowley0312]

This "Next Pacquiao" thing is a big reason Nonito made #4. Nonito didn't do the Philipine Steroid stereotype any help by joining Victor Conte. I hope Donaire is NEVER ranked with Pacquaio, Manny got to the top with hard work, Nonito got there by riding Manny's dick! Nonito's just a photoshoot boy who will probably be KO'd by a nobody soon.

[jayjoetube14]

In terms of accuracy, they are equal or Donaire can be greater in the future

In terms of power, Pacquiao has it more but Donaire can equalize in the future

In terms of speed, give it to Pacquiao

In terms of heart, give it to Pacquiao

In terms of chin, give it to Pacquiao (he has unbelievable chin but I don't think he's using steroids)

Donaire fights like bull

Pacquiao is does it by out punching his opponent

Donaire is good but Pacquiao is just great

[mexipacfan]

I think Donair could be the next great fighter from the filipines but he needs to move up in weight and fight fighters like Gamboa to start making his mark in boxing history

[TheHoztil]

For sure, this is the next Paquiao

[pustitch]

donaire saling pusa lang yang gagong yan.....huwag naman ikumpara kay mr.pacquiao,kakaiba ang lakas at gintong damdamin ni mr.manny pacquiao!!!

[joel93ize]

wala kang katulad nonito ang sobrang galing mo sa ring walang duda ikaw na ang the next pacquiao mabuhay ka idol maraming pilipino ang pinapasaya mo sa bitaw ng mga kamao mo..