Back in a flash
Nonito Donaire has recovered from the punishment he took in his lastouting and is ready to rumble again
Battling excruciating pain, Nonito Donaire Jnr is not about to quit. Down on all three judges' scorecards, his right cheek begins to flare and swell from the fractured cheekbone caused by Vic Darchinyan's numerous punches. The pain tells him to stop, but with a nation counting on him, Donaire just has to win in Texas. Somehow.
The tide begins to turn and the "Filipino Flash" ends the contest with a technical ninth-round knockout against the Armenian "Raging Bull". Donaire had won their first fight as a 7-1 underdog in 2007, but this rematch in November last year is an experience he will never forget.
Donaire's last contest was more than just a fight. It was a time of reflection and mourning for the Philippines after the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Haiyan.
Philippines had just been hit by an earthquake and typhoon and our people were still unwavering in their faith. They fought through the bad times. I couldn't let them down
Like his compatriot Manny Pacquiao, who fought and defeated American Brandon Rios in Macau two weeks later, Donaire needed to lift his country's spirits even if it meant he had to endure the pain of a broken cheekbone and the debilitating effects of flu.
"I thought about quitting because the pain was really excruciating," said 31-year-old Donaire, who will headline next month's "Featherweight Fury" at the CotaiArena in Macau. "But then I remembered how many Filipinos back home were rooting for me. Philippines had just been hit by an earthquake and typhoon and our people were still unwavering in their faith. They fought through the bad times. I couldn't let them down," said Donaire, Asia's second most successful champion after eight-division world champion Pacquiao.
Donaire's courage and bravado should be in evidence on May 31 when he attempts to lift a fifth world division title when he challenges World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight world champion Simpiwe "V12" Vetyeka of South Africa.
The Filipino-American (32-2, 21 KOs), who like Pacquiao is a native of General Santos City and lives and trains in Las Vegas, has won titles in flyweight, super flyweight (albeit an interim title), bantamweight and junior featherweight divisions. He's now stepping up a class as he chases a featherweight crown.