MANILA, Philippines - Isa na namang karangalan ang nakamit ni world four-division champion Nonito ‘The Filipino Flash’ Donaire, Jr.
Kinilala si Donaire, ang kasalukuyang WBO super bantamweight king, bilang ‘top one-punch knockout artist’ ng The Ring Magazine sa itaas nina Marcos Maidana, Juan Manuel Lopez, Wladimir Klitschko at Sergio Martinez.
Ikinunsidera ng The Ring ang mga pagpapatulog ng tubong Talibon, Bohol kina Vic Darchinyan ng Armenia at Fernando Montiel ng Mexico.
“Does his best work with a masterful left hook … Has KO’s nine of his last 12 opponents ... Is so confident in his punch that he occasionally dabbles as a southpaw, switching his stance during fights … Scored 10 of his 18 career knockouts in the first three rounds,” sabi ni Don Stradley ng The Ring.
Inagaw ni Donaire ang IBF flyweight crown kay Darchinyan via fifth-round KO noong 2007 na hinirang ng The Ring bilang “Knockout of the Year” at “Upset of the Year” ng 2007.
Noong 2011, hinablot ni Donaire ang WBC at WBO bantamweight belts ni Montiel mula sa kanyang second-round KO sa Mexican. Kinilala ito ng The Ring bilang “2011 Knockout of the Year”.
Huling umakyat ng boxing ring si Donaire noong Pebrero kung saan niya binigo si Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr. via unanimous decision para sa WBO super bantamweight crown.