Nonito Donaire
Nonito Donaire | |
|---|---|
| Born | Nonito Donaire Jr. November 16, 1982 |
| Nationality |  Filipino American citizen |
| Other names | The Filipino Flash |
| Statistics | |
| Weight(s) | Flyweight |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 20 |
| Wins | 19 |
| Wins by KO | 12 |
| Losses | 1 |
| Draws | 0 |
Nonito Donaire Jr. (IPA: [dɒnаɪrɛ]), nicknamed The Filipino Flash[1] because of his speed and reflexes (born on November 16, 1982), is a Filipino boxer and the current IBF and IBO world champion in the flyweight category. Born in Talibon, Bohol, raised in General Santos City in the Philippines, he resides in San Leandro, California. Donaire is trained by his father Nonito Sr. and his cornermen are his cousins Arvin and Brian Jugarap. Some people, especially Americans, don't know how to pronounce Donaire's last name. Because of this, they mispronounce it as (IPA: [donar]). In reality, it's pronounced (IPA: [dɒnаɪrɛ]).
Amateur career
Nonito the won three national amateur tournaments. The National Silver Gloves in 1998, National Junior Olympics in 1999, and the National USA Tournament in 2000. Donaire also won the International Junior Olympics in 1999.[2]
Donaire made it to the finals of the US Olympic Trials in 2000 and lost a controversial decision to former WBC world light flyweight champion Brian Viloria.[citation needed]
Nonito is very proud to be a Filipino boxer and has worn the Philippine flag on his trunks his entire career.[citation needed] He wears Red boxing trunks while his older brother Glenn wears Blue boxing trunks to represent the Philippine flag.
Nonito Donaire's amateur record was 68-8 with 5 TKO's.[citation needed]
Professional career
Donaire turned pro in 2001 and lost his second fight. "That was the only guy I was not able to knock down," Nonito remarked as he followed up, "It was a close fight that I thought I won, but it could have gone either way."[citation needed]
September 9, 2002, Nonito Donaire won his first regional title by defeating Kaichon Sor Vorapin for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific flyweight title in Guam. Donaire knocked out the future world title challenger in the second round. "I took that fight on short notice and basically so I could afford to go home," Nonito recalled about the encounter, "I knew I wasn’t in the best shape that fight and that I couldn’t go the full twelve so I tried to take him out early and he couldn’t take my punches."[3]
January 20, 2006, Nonito won his second regional title, the NABF super flyweight title, by defeating Kahren Harutyunyan on Shobox by split decision. The scores were 97-92 twice for Donaire and 95-94 for Harutyunan. [4]
October 7, 2006, Donaire added the NABO super flyweight title and successfully defended it against veteran Oscar Andrade by the scores of 118-109 and 116-112 twice. His older brother, Glenn Donaire, fought and lost to Vic Darchinyan on the same night.
Donaire won the IBF flyweight title with a 5th round knockout of undefeated southpaw Vic Darchinyan on July 7, 2007.[5]This victory was awarded Ring Magazine's "Knockout of the Year" and "Upset of the Year" on December 23, 2007.[6][7][8]
Since his victory of Darchinyan, he has tried to challenge the remaining title holders in his division. Specifically Daisuke Naito, the WBC title holder, and Takefumi Sakata, who holds the WBA title. However, Japan's boxing commission only recognizes the WBA and WBC as legitimate world titles and does not at all acknowledge the IBF or the WBO thus making such match ups impossible for Donaire.
On July 31, 2007 Donaire met Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo along with Florante Condes, who won the WBO minimumweight title on the same weekend as Donaire. Donaire said the experience was “an overwhelming feeling. It was indescribable. The moment I walked up the stairs and she was up there and when I looked it was a moment when I couldn’t even look at her face. It was a great honor.”[9]
On December 1, 2007, Donaire defended his title against Luis Maldonado of Mexico by technical knockout in the 8th round in his first title defense to keep his IBF flyweight crown. Donaire stated: "I guess my validation was today but I didn't feel my best; I felt sluggish. I didn't have my legs. I don't know what the problem was. I couldn't move well so I tried to rely on my upper body movement." [10]
On January 21, 2008, New Jersey promoter Gary Shaw confirmed (in Manila)IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire’s title defense versus Hussein Hussein in Dubai on April 4. Third Force Promotions per president Noli Eala will stage the triple world championship card. The 2 other world title fights include - WBO minimumweight champion Donnie Nietes against No. 1 contender Daniel Reyes of Colombia and IBF lightflyweight titlist Ulises Solis of Mexico against OPBF Juanito Rubillar.[11]
Boxing championships and accomplishments
Titles
- 1998 National Silver Gloves Champion
- 1999 National Jr. Olympics Champion
- 1999 International Jr. Olympics Champion
- 2000 National USA Tournament Champion
- 2002-09-01 Won WBO Asia Pacific Flyweight title def Kaichon Sor Vorapin by KO in round 2
- 2006-01-20 Won NABF Super flyweight title defeated Kahren Harutyunyan by UD in round 12
- 2006-10-07 Defended NABF super flyweight title def Oscar Andrade by UD in round 12
- 2007-07-07 Won IBF flyweight title def Vic Darchinyan by KO in round 5
Private life
On January 22, 2008, Nonito Donaire, Jr., 25, Wednesday proposed marriage and sang Jason Mraz’ "I’m Yours" to girlfriend Rachel Marcial, 25, Fil-Am taekwondo jin at the Makisig studios, Quezon City. Marcial replied "of course" and they kissed before the TV cameras. Both announced plans for civil and church wedding after the Dubai April 4 title defense. Marcial's (elder of 2 girls) parents Gerry and Becky are both taekwondo belters. Marcial won gold in the 1999 Milo Nationals, as finweight, and the silver medal at the 2002 World Military Championships.[12]
See also
References
- ^ Boxrec.com boxer Nonito Donaire
- ^ NABF October 2006 Fighter of the Month
- ^ Boxingtalk, Donaire's One Fight From Stardom
- ^ Pound4pound.com, Donaire Outpoints Harutyunyan
- ^ The Boxing Times, Donaire Shocks Darchinyan
- ^ Manila Bulletin, IBF champ coming to Manila soon
- ^ www.abs-cbnnews.com, Donaire reaps twin awards from Ring Mag
- ^ www.boxingscene.com,“Fighting Words” – Freewheeling Fighting Awards, Year Two
- ^ Philboxing.com, DONAIRE ECSTATIC OVER MEETNG WITH PRESIDENT ARROYO
- ^ philboxing.com, DONAIRE WINS BY 8TH ROUND TKO OVER MALDONADO! (Round by Round Report)
- ^ Abs-Cbn Interactive, Donaire to face Hussein in Dubai
- ^ abs-cbnnews.com, Donaire proposes to Fil-Am jin on TV
External links
- Boxing record for Nonito Donaire from BoxRec (registration required)