Nonito Donaire - The Filipino Flash

The Filipino Flash Nonito Donaire, Jr. (born November 16, 1982) is a Filipino American professional boxer. Known as "The Filipino Flash," Donaire is a four-division world champion and the reigning WBO Super Bantamweight Champion. He is also the former WBC and WBO Bantamweight, Interim WBA Super Flyweight and IBF Flyweight Champion.

He is a known switch-hitter with the ability to fight either southpaw or orthodox. He is currently rated by The Ring as the number four pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

Childhood life 

Nonito Donaire was born in Talibon, Bohol, Philippines to Filipino parents, Nonito Sr. and Imelda Donaire. He is the third among four siblings: Glenn, Rosiel and Ermie. Back then, there was no electricity in Bohol. He grew up in General Santos City, South Cotabato, where he lived until age six and went to the same school as boxing icon eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao. His father, a second year high school dropout, was in the Philippine Army for eight years and fought as an amateur before trying his luck alone in the US in 1990. In 1993, at the age of eleven, he had joined his father in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California and they lived in San Leandro. He later moved to San Mateo in the Bay Area.

Nonito was a frail, asthmatic and wimpy kid who got bullied in school and went back home crying. He was picked on for three years, until a little after he migrated to San Leandro. At home, he felt no attention has been paid to him, as a middle child. He wanted to be recognised by his parents, especially his father. As soon as his brother started boxing, ten year old Nonito craved the respect and recognition the brother got from it, and started it. His father took him to a boxing gym at age eleven to get him off the streets. In his first amateur bout as a kid, he beat the opponent with his straight punches, all the while just thinking that "I’m going to kill him before he kills me." However, he had had no confidence until he earned four or five knockout victories in the professional bouts.

During their younger years, Nonito and his older brother Glenn would spar, with the younger brother being beaten often. As a kid, Nonito watched videos of his hero Alexis Argüello, using them to learn how to throw his powerful left hook. While in San Lorenzo High School in San Lorenzo, California the brothers won an assortment of regional and district amateur boxing championships. His cousin, Richard Donaire, is also a professional boxer. 

Married Life

Nonito Donaire was married to Rachel Marcial, a Filipino-American USA National Collegiate and Military Taekwando Champion. They were married on August 8, 2008 in a private ceremony in Carmel, California, with all their close relatives. Subsequently, they had a church wedding in the Philippines on November 11, 2011. 

Donaire’s wife is a pivotal member of his team, with her father acting as his chief security. His parents-in-law, Gerry and Rebecca Marcial, are the leading members of his support group. Nonito wants to be with people who are there for him even if he has nothing and likes to please them above all. During his early career, he had hated boxing. Due to excessive pressure, he had not only never enjoyed boxing, but had even dreaded it every day. Nevertheless, he did stick with it because he did not want to disappoint his father. Currently, he always fights for such people who support him and believe in him, and finally for himself, so he loves and enjoys boxing.

Amateur career 

Nonito Donaire, as young American amateur boxer won three national championships: the National Silver Gloves in 1998, National Junior Olympics in 1999 and the National USA Tournament in 2000. He also won the International Junior Olympics in 1999. Donaire's amateur record was 68–8 with 5 TKOs.

Professional career

Nonito Donaire turned professional with his brother in 2001 and signed up with promoter Jackie Kallen. When Nonito lost his second fight in 2001, via a dodgy decision, he tasted the intense feeling that he did not want to see the sorrow, sadness or pity in people's faces. Since then, he has continued a winning streak for over ten years. After four pro bouts, Nonito and his brother Glenn left Kallen and returned to Manila with their father. Initially mulling restarting their boxing careers in the Philippines, they decided to go back to the better facilities in San Leandro, where their father felt there were fewer distractions.

Flyweight division

Nonito Donaire won his first regional title in flyweight division by defeating Kaichon Sor Vorapin for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific flyweight title in Guam on 9 September 2002. Donaire knocked out the future world title challenger in the second round.

He won his second regional title, the NABF super flyweight title, by defeating Kahren Harutyunyan on Shobox by split decision on January 20, 2006. The scores were 97–92, 97–92 for Donaire and 95–94 for Harutyunan.

On October 7, 2006, he outpointed veteran Oscar Andrade by the scores of 118–109, 116–112, and 116–112. His older brother, Glenn Donaire, fought and lost to Vic Darchinyan on the same night. A 7–1 underdog, Nonito Donaire won the IBF Flyweight title with a one-punch, fifth round knockout of the then-undefeated Vic Darchinyan on July 7, 2007. This victory was awarded Ring Magazine's "Knockout of the Year" and "Upset of the Year" on December 23, 2007. On July 31, 2007, Donaire met Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo along with Florante Condes, who won the IBF Minimum weight 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." 

On December 1, 2007, Nonito Donaire made the first defense of his IBF title against Luis Maldonado of Mexico by technical knockout in the 8th round. 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."

In late June 2008, he severed ties with promoter Gary Shaw because the number of fights had not matched the number stated in the contract and Shaw had failed to properly disclose revenue from previous fights as stated under the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act. Days after leaving Gary Shaw Productions, he would sign with Top Rank Boxing.

On November 2, 2008, retained his IBF flyweight title via a 6th-round (1:31) technical knockout of Moruti Mthalane. During sparring for that fight, Donaire had an asthma attack. He could not carry through twelve rounds as his father ordered. While his father did not notice the reason and tried to force it to him, he left the gym to go to a hospital. He had a slight symptoms of bronchitis, and was diagnosed with recurrence of asthma. After the Mthalane fight, he became estranged from his father.

On April 19, 2009, Nonito Donaire faced flyweight Raul Martinez for his third defense of his IBF flyweight title at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines. He scored the TKO after 2:42 into the 4th round. Nonito has been trained by the Peñalosa brothers (Gerry, Dodie Boy and Jonathan) since the training camp for the match against Martinez. Because of his victory over Martinez, Donaire was included for the first time in the Ring Magazine pound for pound rankings, in the 7th spot.

Super Flyweight division

The International Boxing Federation (IBF) ordered a mandatory rematch between Donaire and previous challenger Moruti Mthalane by August 1, 2009. However, Donaire's agent has expressed interest in moving up to the junior bantamweight/super flyweight division at 115 pounds. Initially, Donaire was set to face Hugo Fidel Cazares on August 15, but talks for the bout had fallen through 2009. Rafael Concepción of Panama then replaced Cazares as Donaire's opponent for the Interim WBA super flyweight title, which headlined the card titled "Pinoy Power 2." Donaire added conditioning coach Mike Bazzel to supplement Dodie Boy and Jonathan Peñalosa in their camp at the Undisputed Boxing Gym in San Carlos, a Bay Area suburb near San Mateo. He dedicated his fight against Concepcion in memory of late Philippine President Corazon "Cory" Aquino where he requested Everlast, a boxing equipment company, to provide a yellow robe with the inscription “I. M. O. (in memory of) former Pres. Cory Aquino.” Because Concepcion failed to weigh within the super flyweight limit (115 lbs.), only Donaire, who made weight successfully, can win the title. Donaire won the bout via unanimous decision. Two days after the win over Concepcion, he arrived to a rousing welcome in Manila, where he was feted in a motorcade by Mayor Alfredo Lim.

Nonito Donaire's trainer was switched from his father to Roberto García Cortez in late 2009. Donaire does not want to be rude to Garcia by not training hard. So, even when he is not with Garcia, Donaire is working to the limit.

On February 13, 2010, Nonito Donaire faced Manuel "Chango" Vargas for his first defense of the Interim WBA super flyweight title at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, Nevada. The latter was only a late replacement to Gerson Guerrero, who did not pass eye examinations and was forced to pull out. Vargas took the fight on less than 3 days short notice and had to move up 3 weight divisions. The bout headlined the card titled "Pinoy Power 3." Donaire won the fight via a 3rd-round (1:33) knockout and successfully retained his title.

After the fight Nonito Donaire expressed his interest in fighting Vic Darchinyan, for a rematch, or Fernando Montiel, both boxing champions, as he plans to move up to the bantamweight division. According to Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, Nonito Donaire would have faced the reigning WBC and WBA Super Flyweight Champion Vic Darchinyan on August 21, 2010 at the Home Depot in California. After weeks of uncertainty regarding the Donaire-Darchinyan rematch, Arum said the fight was done. However, the deal fell apart on May 5, 2010, so the bout was called off.

Nonito Donaire is also looking for a fight with WBO Bantamweight Champion Fernando Montiel of Mexico. However, Donaire stated that he is looking forward to a regular world title match in super flyweight division first before taking on Montiel.

Following this events, Bob Arum announced that Donaire would fight in the undercard of Juan Manuel López and Bernabe Concepcion bout on July 10, 2010 at the Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Opponent for this fight was expected to be announced in the coming days. Donaire challenged Puerto Rican boxer Eric Morel, but the latter turned the offer down. As a result, Donaire planned a bantamweight move, as he did not find any available opponent in the super flyweight division; at first he refused to fight Hernan "Tyson" Marquez, who was coming from a lopsided loss against Richie Mepranum. The Donaire-Marquez bout took place in the super flyweight division. Donaire won the match by TKO in the eight round. The bout was supposed to be his last fight in the super flyweight division.

Bantamweight

Following his win against Marquez, Nonito Donaire stated his intention to compete in the bantamweight division (118 pounds) to challenge WBO and WBC Champion Fernando Montiel.

On December 4, 2010, Nonito Donaire challenged former WBA Bantamweight Champion Wladimir Sidorenko for the vacant WBC Continental Americas bantamweight title. Donaire knocked down Sidorenko thrice and became the first man to stop Sidorenko. The win against Sidorenko gave Donaire the chance to face Mexican Fernando Montiel.

On February 19, 2011, Nonito Donaire stopped Fernando Montiel in the second round to take the WBC and WBO Bantamweight titles. Donaire took a right to the head from the Montiel, then immediately countered with a devastating left to the head that sent Montiel crumpling to the canvas. Montiel rose to continue and Donaire rushed over to land a left and a right before referee Russell Mora stopped the fight after two minutes and 25 seconds of the second round. With the victory, Donaire became the second Filipino and third Asian to become a three-division world champion, a fighter who won world titles in three different weight divisions.

On February 28, 2011, the Philippine Senate formally adopted two Senate Resolutions filed by Senators Pia Cayetano and Manuel Lapid congratulating and commending Donaire for being an outstanding Filipino boxer and for bringing honor and pride to the country.

On October 22, 2011, Nonito Donaire made his New York debut by beating previously undefeated two-division world champion Omar "El Huracán" Narvaez at Madison Square Garden in New York. Donaire dominated the fight against an obviously outmatched Narvaez but did not get the knockout he sought.

Super Bantamweight

After the fight between WBC Super Bantamweight Champion Toshiaki Nishioka and Rafael Márquez, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum stated that he had an agreement for the winner of the Nishioka-Marquez title fight to face Nonito Donaire, who wants to move up to super bantamweight after his WBC and WBO bantamweight title fight with Omar Andres Narvaez. However, in an interview after Nishioka won, Arum said that the planned Donaire-Nishioka fight will not happen as earlier planned for mid-January and that "probably Nishioka won't fight Donaire until May or June (2012) because he wants to take a rest." Instead, Arum raised the possibility of Donaire fighting WBO Super Bantamweight Champion Jorge Arce.

WBO Super Bantamweight Championship

On Saturday night to capture the WBO Super Bantamweight Championship. It was not a perfect fight for the new champion, but he showed his resolve and did what was necessary to walk away with a win. 

Give Vazquez credit where it is due, he came in with nothing to lose. He was still trying to build himself back up after the loss last May to Jorge Arce, and managed to hang in there with one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world for 12 rounds.

There were plenty of stories to come out of Saturday's fight, and here is what we are most excited to see come out of this epic battle. 

After twelve rounds, kept rolling along with a dominant victory over Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. scores of 117–110 twice were read in Donaire’s favor as the third judge had a surprising 115–112 for Vázquez Jr. He won via split decision to capture the WBO Super Bantamweight title, even though Donaire connected 60 percent of his power shots, outlanded Vázquez in eleven rounds except for the sixth round and knocked him down in the ninth round. That makes him the second Asian (only other than Manny Pacquiao) to win championships in four different divisions.