Muntik nang madale si Donaire

MANILA, Philippines - Halos muntikan nang matalo si Nonito Donaire, Jr. kay Vic Darchinyan sa kanilang rematch sa Corpus Christi, Texas dahil nahuhuli sa scorecards ng dalawa sa tatlong judges bago gumawa si ‘Filipino Flash’ ng adjustment para pigilin ang Armenian sa 2:06 sa ninth round ng kanilang 10-round, non-title fight.

Inamin ni Donaire, nagdiwang ng kanyang ika-31 kaarawan noong Sabado, na nahirapan siyang ilagay ang kanyang isipan sa kondisyon sa unang mga rounds.

“I knew what I had to do,” wika ni Donaire.  “My dad and I worked on it in the gym.  The plan was to box Darchinyan.  But when the fight started, I felt my legs wanted to do one thing and my hands another. My legs were moving like I would box but my hands were moving like I would punch.  I think there just wasn’t enough time for me to work on my boxing before the fight.”

Ayon pa kay Donaire, sinabi nina chief trainer Robert Garcia at ng kanyang amang si Nonito, Sr. sa corner, na kailangan niyang kumuha ng puntos.

“We expected Darchinyan to fight like he did----no surprises,” sabi ni Donaire.  “He paid for his mistake the first time.  I knew I had to be first (to land) but it wasn’t happening. I wanted to jab more.  Instead, it was Darchinyan who was first.  I didn’t know whether to box or punch.  In the ninth round, I was determined to bring him out. I figured he would go for a knockout if I wasn’t as aggressive.  So I jabbed and he moved in.  That was the opening I needed.  I’m confident of my power and it got the job done.  It was risky but that’s what I had to do to win.”

Ang naturang adjustment ay hindi naman naresolbahan ni Darchinyan.

Sinabi ni Donaire na hihintayin muna niyang gumaling ang kanyang fractured right cheekbone bago isipin ang susunod niyang laban.

Isang opsyon kay Donaire ay ang rematch kay WBA/WBO superbantamweight champion Guil-lermo Rigondeaux.

Inagaw ng Cuban ang suot ni Donaire na WBO crown via a decision sa kanilang unification showdown noong Abril.

Ang isa pang opsyon ni Donaire ay ang hamunin si WBC featherweight titlist Jhonny Gonzalez ng Mexico.

Ang problema ay si Gonzalez, pinatumba si Abner Mares sa first round para agawin sa huli ang bitbit nitong WBC belt noong Agosto, ay nasa bakuran ng Golden Boy at si Donaire ay nasa Top Rank.

Ang iba pang alternatibo para kay Donaire ay ang pagharap kina IBF champion Evgeny Gradovich ng Russia, WBO king Orlando Salido ng Mexico at WBA ruler Nicholas Walters ng Jamaica.