|
 |
|
| Donaire is pleased to be swept up in the Pacman wave. He was told years back that Filipino fighters were not marketable. Times and attitudes have changed. |
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
 |
Donaire Happy To Be Part Of Pinoy Power
By Rick Folstad
He’s that other top-rated fighter from the Philippines, the one with the catchy nickname, the perfect English and the left hook that can drop an elephant.
It dropped Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan onto the canvas two years ago in what many called the “Knockout of the Year.“
It was scary, but pretty.
Undefeated and defending his IBF flyweight title for the seventh time, the cocky Darchinyan ran into the left hook in the fifth round of their July 2007 fight and went down like a drunk slipping on an icy sidewalk. He made a valiant effort to get back to his feet, but he couldn’t find his balance. Or his feet.
The guy with the pretty left hook and the catchy nickname - Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire - was suddenly the new flyweight champion of the world.
Now, three wins later (making it 20 wins in a row), Donaire (21-1, 14 KOs) is ready to let go of his title and move up to the super-flyweight class. He fights Rafael Concepcion (13-3-1, 8 KOs) of Panama City for the interim WBA super-flyweight title on Saturday (pay-per-view) from The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Top Rank is calling it “Pinoy Power 2” in honor of Filipino fighters.
“Concepcion is a tough guy with heavy hands,” Donaire said on a recent conference call. “He has a lot of heart and he can take a punch. He’s there to do his best. He fights with all his heart and those guys are usually dangerous. They never give up. But I’m very confident going into this fight.”
In his last title defense in April, Donaire stopped a tough Raul Martinez in four rounds. It was one of his better fights, and he did it in front of a home crowd in Manila.
“I think (my performance) had to do with the flow around me and being in the best possible shape,” said Donaire, who moved to the United States in 1993 when he was 9. “My team and I trained hard. I was really confident when I came out and the people around me supported me. There were 15,000 people in the coliseum and that really motivated me.”
Donaire now lives in San Leandro, Calif., but he remembers where he’s from. In honor of former Philippines president Corazon Aquino, who recently died of colon cancer, he’ll be wearing yellow trunks against Concepcion.
“That was her color,“ Donaire said.
While Donaire’s popularity is growing, he’s still trailing pound-for -pound king and fellow countryman Manny Pacquiao, who is almost god-like in his home country.
If it bothers Donaire to be in Pacquiao‘s huge shadow, he didn’t say it. Instead, he said it was an honor just to be associated with Pacquiao. Asked if he felt tied to him, he said from now on, every Filipino boxer will be tied to Pacquiao.
“He’s a great champion, so for me, it’s an honor to be part of that,” he said. “I don’t care about being labeled or anything like that. It‘s more about the pride I bring into the ring. It’s about having the heart of a champion.”
Like Pacquiao, Donaire expects to continue moving up to the heavier weight classes. He says getting back down to 112 pounds right now would be tough for him.
“I’m gaining (weight) as my body matures,” he said. “The weight is difficult to shed.”
Two years ago, he said he was walking around at 142 pounds when he wasn‘t in training.
“At that weight, I wasn’t chubby or anything,“ said Donaire, who recently left Gary Shaw and signed with Top Rank. “But I know that with the proper training and putting that soft tissue into muscle, I can go up to 130 or maybe 135.”
There was a time earlier in his career when Donaire says he couldn’t get fights. Or if he did, he had to take them on just a few days’ notice. His only loss was a five-round decision in the second fight of his career.
When he tried to sign with managers in the past, they told him Filipino fighters were not marketable.
“I was told that Filipino fighters couldn’t break an egg,” he said. “But Manny has helped change all that and we are thankful for everything he has done for the Filipino boxing world.“
As for a rematch with Darchinyan, it might be too late. The Raging Bull just lost another fight, this one by decision to Joseph Agbeko for the IBF bantamweight title.
“Darchinyan only has one punch and if he can’t land it, he won’t be able to beat anybody,” Donaire said. “Agbeko had a game plan and executed it perfectly. I don‘t know anything about fighting Darchinyan again.“
Also on the card is WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano of LaPuente, Calif., who will defend his title against mandatory challenger and former world champion Bernabe Concepcion.
|
MisterLee:
|
Donaire boma ye!!!
Monday Aug 10, 2009 01:20:21 PM
|
|
TheTruth:
|
Donaire = GREAT!
Monday Aug 10, 2009 01:34:21 PM
|
|
TDOGG:
|
just want to interject something & set tha record straight pacman has won world titles in 5 divisions...just wanna know since when now THE IBO TITLE is tha same as WBC,WBA,IBF,WBO,..I RECOGNIZE PACMAN FOR ALL HIS ACHEIVEMENTS but say he champ in 6 divisions is goin a lil overboard..just cuz he won THE IBO now that has recognition as the other 4 if so then the same rule applies to all the other IBO CHAMPIONS ..cuz if he won the IBA belt would that be recognized as champion ..when other belt holders had it and wasnt given tha same props..listen if we gonna recognize it ..no problem ..but do it for all not jus FIGHTERS WHO ARE HOT right now..is all im saying ..please boxing ppl some feedback on this ...AM I WRONG FOR SAYING ..WHAT IM SAYING..PLEASE LET ME KNOW
Monday Aug 10, 2009 02:24:36 PM
|
|
Radam G, a humble PacManite sendin' luv from da Pilipinas:
|
Wow! I am glad that the Fillipino Flash is spittin da righteous truth. This garbage that Filipino fighters are not marketable haunted me in the late-mid 1980s through the 1990s. Like Donaire, speaking "perfect English," I did too, plus Spanish, so the powerful wacked-job promoters that be wanted to market me as a Mexican American. I went with for a minute, but my Pinoy pride got the best of me, so I demanded to be promoted as a Pinoy. To no avail, a loco promoter with funny hair put the word out that I was a "Ko-re-an-o. (He was doing heavy business in South Korea.) I ended up suing the IBF and a certain pointed-afro wearing promoter before signing with a minor-league promoter. Dude was wacky too. I ended up suing him, too, then heading to Japan where I made big money without having to sue every darn body. But in Japan I was market largest as a smooth-fighting Chinese. Don't any of you fightwriters start researching my a$$, OKAY!. But can you imagine that the Japanese thought of me as the Bruce Lee of boxing. I even boxed in Hong Kong a couple of time as the Bruce Lee of boxing. Enough about me. Donaire is so right about PacMan. PacMan put the Pinoy fighter straight-up on the WORLD MAP for good. And da Filipino Flash is going to be banging heads, kickin' a$$es, takin' names and making some serious noise. Holla!
Monday Aug 10, 2009 02:25:33 PM
|
|
MisterLee:
|
Radam boma ye! I think donaire is one of the best boxers out today. we'll see if his personality is marketable, bc manny is so darn humble and genuine, donaire seems like a real gracious winner, but he also seems to have a bit of a cocky streak or a cocky demeanor and the common pple may not connect with it, but he's one helluva fighter! the whole speaking "good english" thing is crap, you canot tabulate, manuacture, nor predict a fighter's appeal by entering it into some rigid formula and having a marketable universally loved fighter come off the factory belt, but i wish him the best. he's one of my favorite fightersnow. see ya! Donaire boma ye! holla! tss rules!
Monday Aug 10, 2009 02:36:22 PM
|
|
Oddsmaker:
|
This will be a tough fight for nonito but if he wins convincingly he will gain more fans because this will be on PPV and people will
buy a card like this , his fight value will go up
Monday Aug 10, 2009 02:39:14 PM
|
|
#1 Pacfan "KO's Cotto in 7":
|
I told ya'll Filipino Fighters are here to stay! Thanks to Mega-Manny, Money-Manny, Pac-Manny, or whatever you want to call him. He(Pacquiao) has put Philipines back on the map. Like many of the All-Time great Asian fighters, Ceferino Garcia, Pancho Villa, and Flash Elorde were very well known here in the states. Look these guys up and they all faced the best in and around their division and though not successful at times they laid it all out in the ring. Nonito Donaire is going to be the next big thing right behind Pacquiao. He will knockout Rafael Concepcion come Saturday night. Bernabe is going to have the biggest test of his career. Tough fight for him but I see him coming out a winner.
Monday Aug 10, 2009 03:33:05 PM
|
|
#1 Pacfan "KO's Cotto in 7":
|
Nonito's left hook reminds me of the hook Oscar use to throw. The difference is that it's more crisp and fast.
Monday Aug 10, 2009 03:35:45 PM
|
|
MisterLee:
|
Donaire has a beautifully timed jab, always circles the opponent the correct way, great defense and head movement, power in both hands, likes to mix it up, rarely gets hit flush, goes for the knockout, a great finisher. Dude, can anyone see this guy moving up and challenging Juan Ma in the future? or even penalosa, ponce de leon, marquez or vasquez? pc out!
Monday Aug 10, 2009 04:01:46 PM
|
|
cadoski:
|
GOOD LUCK TO ALL FILIPINO BOXERS. mAKE YOUR CONTRY PROUD.
Monday Aug 10, 2009 05:17:21 PM
|
|
brownsugar:
|
I still haven't seen any footage of Donaire except the KO round of the Darchinyan fight,.. would like to see more,.. maybe now he'll get more frequent spots on Showtime or HBO,.....
Monday Aug 10, 2009 05:49:42 PM
|
|
isidro:
|
When i first watched Donaire fight against Darchinyan i can feel that he means business.The way he fought then was very calculating to be able unleash his devastating punch which is now in the annals of boxing history as one to remember in a long time.I thought he was motivated too by the lost of his brother Glen and to somewhat avenge it.Well,that's a good plot too in case correct.But now he is of his own greatness and with the radiance of Pacquiao's achivements woldwide in boxing elites standard ,he is one potential achiever in progress.Personality wise i think he is just aware of the saying that in order to blend in anywhere in the world ('If you're in Rome do what the romans do')to that effect got americanized in bridging the cultural gap.However he is a pinoy fighter by heart and soul as he is.This will be a very exciting and entertaining fight for sure.
Monday Aug 10, 2009 05:57:38 PM
|
|
oskar:
|
Concepcion defeated a Filipino prospect, Aj Banal in which Concepcion had been put down to canvass several times but refused to go down permanently. Banal used the wrong game plan; he should have tried to win on points when he felt he can’t knock out a tough guy like Concepcion but Aj is still young so it’s great for him to feel what it’s like to lose so he won’t forget it so next time he’ll try harder, wiser. Conception gained respect that night but against Nonito who’s more fundamentally sound fighter who's boxing IQ is up there, he’ll be over whelmed by Nonito but of course you can’t count out Concepcion’s heart, he might pull something out of his sleeve. Nonito vs Juan Ma it would be great especially now that he trains with the Penalosa brothers. There might be looming friendly revenge under that but not now Nonito is still too small against Juan Ma may be a few more years and weight they can face each other may be at featherweight or long shot lightweight. I think if that happens in the future both of them will be well established fighters with their own followings, it would be a mega fight hopefully they can keep improving and winning until that day.
Monday Aug 10, 2009 06:08:43 PM
|
|
alcalFBI:
|
Nonito Donaire will be one of the next boxings great to come. He has the natural fighting styles, speed, power, and a heart of a champion. He may not have the charisma like Dela Hoya, Cotto, Pacquiao, and other great champions but that will come when he starts winning these higher weight divisions. His name has just surfacing in the boxing world slowly. Although his name was in the pound4pound list still has to show more to the fight fans that he is an exciting and entertaining fighter. This weekend will be one of his chances to showcase himself. For sure this will be a very good fight to see. Don't miss it!
Good luck.
Monday Aug 10, 2009 06:20:50 PM
|
|
new era:
|
you have all the chance to prove your ability. we filipinos pray for your success and hoping, you are our next standard bearer after the Pacman. although Manny is very much around, you have your own destiny. we believe, this is for the pride and glory of our country. another great boxer coming from the Philippines. good luck.
Monday Aug 10, 2009 06:45:30 PM
|
|
fightfan:
|
TDOGG: It wasn't the IBO belt that made Pacquiao's KO of Hatton significant, but the Ring/lineal belt. Remember that Hatton was the lineal/Ring champion who was undefeated at the weight until Packy came along.
It's up to you whether you recognize Pac as a 6-division champ or not. But given the number of alphabelt holders in each weight division, I myself favor the lineal and Ring rating system.
Monday Aug 10, 2009 06:51:38 PM
|
|
DaveB:
|
Mister Lee, Why do you say Donaire is cocky? Even a little cocky? From everything I've seen of him or read about him the guy seems very humble and easy-going. Did I miss something? He seems like a friendly neighbor that you would strike up a conversation with. Anyway like you said he has great skills and is really a credit to boxing. EVERYONE should be happy to have people like him represent boxing, and I'm sure we agree on that.
Monday Aug 10, 2009 07:29:07 PM
|
|
pinoypower:
|
GO NONITO GO....WE ARE ALWAYS HERE TO SUPPORT U....WE WILL WATCH UU FIGHT THRU PPV HERE IN THE MIDDLE EAST...
Monday Aug 10, 2009 07:45:00 PM
|
|
Marco Polo:
|
maybe you can watch Donaire vs. Kahren Harutyunyan round10.. he struggled a lil bit and out boxed on that round. but here you can imagine that donaire can be mugged by a good boxer. i guess he needs to train hard and fight smart always. Keep those left shots comin champ. goodluck with your fight.
Monday Aug 10, 2009 07:58:13 PM
|
|
rSPEChawaii:
|
Filipino Fights FTW! (for the win)
Monday Aug 10, 2009 08:21:55 PM
|
|
#1 Pacfan "KO's Cotto in 7":
|
I agree with you Oskar, from watching that fight, Banal had good success in the early rounds and middle rounds but he gassed out in my opinion. I thought this guy was the one but he lacked intensity and the hunger. The number one thing that separates these young guys Donaire excluded from Pac is that their inability to take a punch. Banal was dropped by a weak looking punch and that tells me right there that he better learn how to box.
Monday Aug 10, 2009 08:34:36 PM
|
|
good boy:
|
nonito has his own style... i like the way he fight... his left hook is very dangerous and also with his right straight... i like his style...
Monday Aug 10, 2009 08:36:52 PM
|
|
EXAMINERAUTHOR:
|
The claim that Nonito is cocky or a little cocky, I don't remember him being such, not at any instance. He is a very humble guy that's y I like him. Just hearing him speak fluent Tagalog despite his long stay in the US really amazes me.
I was earlier wondering about his fighting style which looked familiar to me... until he confided that his idol was the late Alexis Arguello. He appears to be a great ambidextrous fighter. His hands, whether he is sporting orthodox or southpaw stance, are both deadly.
He also looked like Louie Espinosa during the latter's prime. Tall, and long, fast and deadly hands. Ordinarily, he is orthodox but his left hand is equally deadly. He is a rare Pinoy fighter. I wouldn't be surprised if someday he occupies the No. 1 slot for the pound4pound when the Pacman retires.
I am so proud of you, Nonito. U r a great Pinoy.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK NONITO. BE HUMBLE ALWAYS. GOD BLESS YOU.
Monday Aug 10, 2009 10:38:31 PM
|
|
EXAMINERAUTHOR:
|
TDOOG: The issue that you are trying to raise is already monotonouse. This has been answered many many times already in various fora. Of course you are entitled to your own opinion.
Monday Aug 10, 2009 10:49:46 PM
|
|
@#1 PacFan -- fr Radam G, a most humble PacManite:
|
All those yesteryears Filipino greats, who you mentioned, the world, even much of the boxing one, did not know that they were Filipinos until Manny "PacMan" Pacquiao. Pera Pac has indeed given Pinoys and Pinay a chance to be on the world MAP, not back -- as Filipinos. I know that it is hard to believe, but mostly only the military public and their dependents knew what a Filipino was and from where. Man, for the longest we were identified as just Hawaiian, Asians or wrongly as Koreans, Mexicans and Mexican-Americans. Thanks to God, things are going to be different now. @EXAMINERAUTHOR, a lot of people don't know the meaning of humble. They get it mixed with vunerable, a non-emotional weakling or a gullible quite person taking verbal abuse, but$hitting, mocking and stereotypes. Holla!
Tuesday Aug 11, 2009 12:24:48 AM
|
|
JaketheSnake:
|
Maybe its me but I think there's a fatal flaw in AJ Banal's footwork. He has his feet too wide apart! This may be ok while you're fresh in the early rounds but this will make moving around VERY difficult in the middle to late rounds.
That said, maybe he can make it up with superior athleticism and training. Also, having your feet that wide like that allows some boxers to put a little more power in their punches..
Tuesday Aug 11, 2009 12:55:17 AM
|
|
MisterLee @ Dave B:
|
Yo man! I did say he as gracious winner, in one of his defenses after Darchinyan he right hooked the guy and it cut inside his eye lid, so it was declared an instant TKO, even tho the guy was not technically hurt, but Donaire was super nice to him and said he wished him the best. However, his demeanor, he does have a bit of a chin up, strut/swagger, and slight egoism to him that is hard to pick up. He knows he's good. Also, im ean i guess most competitive athletes do talk, but he has said stuff on fight hype about how : "when darchinyan faces me he looks down, he knows what idid to him, i'll do it again etc." which is game talk, but, the look on pacquaio before or after fights is totally one of gracious humility and almost disbelief on how big the ride has been, donaire to me carries more of an inward exuberence, an assured but cocky confidence, and belief in himself, but not nec. fighting for the pple etc (seems to fight for himself). Don't get me wrong, i dn't think he's a jerk, and stuff, i like him a lot and i like his style, but he will never carry a country like hatton, pacquaio, or cotto, he may be well-liked tho. That's just me. Pc out!
Tuesday Aug 11, 2009 10:56:51 AM
|
|
Yuvie:
|
I'm excited about Donaire but we need to see him in with the top guys again. The Darchinyan fight was great, I loved it but I can't wait to see him in some 'super fights'.
Tuesday Aug 11, 2009 02:23:47 PM
|
|
#1 Pacfan "KO's Cotto in 7":
|
@Radam, Villa, Garcia, and Elorde were all considered "Pilipino" greats. Announcers made it clear that these guys came from the Island of Philippines or they say Pacific. I think they weren't relatively well known because there was not a lot of Pinoys in the game. So they were at times mistakenly sought as Latin fighters too.
Tuesday Aug 11, 2009 03:32:12 PM
|
|
Radam G, a most humble PacManite @ #1 PacFan:
|
I was not talking about the knowledge of the announcers and commentators, I was talking about the non-Filipino fans. Go talk to some now. And they will tell you that Villa and Garcia were Hawaiians and or Mexicans. Matter of fact, during most of their boxing, the Philippines was still a colony of the United States. And Americans got the Philippines Islands mixed up with the Hawaiian Islands. Many still do, hard to believe. Geography is not a strong point of many Kanos. I'm humble, not a bragger, so I will not tell you that I know this personally because many of those great are my descendants. And being a Filipino, you know that a lot of Filipinos are relatives of each others who go into the same field or do the same sports for generations. Even the Filipino two-time world champion in the 1990s who was whipping azz was believed to a be a Mexican by the minority of the fans, fighters and promoters. He knocked out an American Gold medal winner back then. I will let you look him up. Holla!
Tuesday Aug 11, 2009 06:58:14 PM
|
|
Real Talk:
|
I like Donaire, beautiful boxing skills . I'd like to see as much of him as possible. He reminds me too of Oscar
De La Hoya . Dueces
Tuesday Aug 11, 2009 10:27:33 PM
|
|
Anony:
|
I only watched Donaire vs. Darchinyan and he looked awesome and dominant. Great style of boxing. He looks like a young Wilfredo Gomez rising up. But I don't like this to be a PPV. He needs more exposure in the networks before becoming a PPV draw. I won't be buying but I will be following the results.
Wednesday Aug 12, 2009 08:16:44 AM
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Angie And Goody...23 Years Later
Twenty three years later after they seconded Marvin Hagler and Ray Leonard in Las Vegas, Goody Petronelli and Angelo Dundee crossed paths again. This time, it was at Foxwoods. Photo/friend of TSS "The Iceman" John Scully reports there were only pleasantries exchanged. Goody didn't debate the split decision victory enjoyed by Leonard, which to this day Hagler disputes.
|
|
|
|
|
The Team 
Headlines 
Community 
Multimedia 
Information 
Boxing Forum 
