Guardo to throw birthday party for Donaire tonight

Longtime sports patron Jonathan “Atan” L. Guardo will throw a sumptuous birthday party for reigning IBF/IBO flyweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire, Jr. tonight at the City Sports Club-Cebu.

Donaire will turn 25 years old today.

“Nonito Donaire is one of our promising world boxing champions today. He has brought honor and pride to our coutry and he deserves all our support most especially that he’s training for his first title defense here in Cebu,” said Guardo, whose company Uniherb produces top health products such as Arthro Kontra Arthritis, Kidney Care, and Heart Vit.

Guardo said he will also give Donaire a surprise birthday present. When pressed what it is, he was firm in his reply: “I’ll announce it during the party.”

Donaire, who holds an 18-1 win-loss record spiked with 11KOs, is currently in the thick of heavy training at the fabled ALA Boxing Gym in preparation for his December 2 defense against Mexico’s Luis Maldonado (37-1-1, 28KOs) at Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

Donaire won the twin belts by knocking out the previously undefeated Armenia-born Australian KO artist Vic “The Raging Bull” Darchinyan in the fifth round last July 7 at the Harbour Yard Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut.—EBV