Donaire cops Philippine Sportswriters Association major award

MANILA, Philippines -Nonito Donaire, who made headlines in 2007 with his win over unbeaten Australian Vic Darchinyan, is back on the scene as major awardee of the country’s oldest news organization, the 61-year-old Philippine Sportswriters Association.

Although out of action for almost a year, Donaire still managed to retain his International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight title with a sixth round technical knockout of Moruti Mtahalane of South Africa in only his single fight for 2008.

Despite a bit rusty during the 12-round title bout at the Mandalay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, the California-based Filipino still showed flashes of brilliance as a boxing star in the making.

Of course, he still holds the distinction as the only fighter to have inflicted the single blot in Darchinyan’s brilliant career, knocking out the previously unbeaten Armenian-born Australian in the fifth round of their title duel to wrest the IBF crown two years ago.

Darchinyan has since moved up at super-flyweight and on Sunday, retained his IBF, World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) titles following a sensational 11th round technical knockout of Mexican warrior Jorge Arce.

A Donaire-Darchinyan rematch still looms in the horizon, with the 26-year-old Filipino needing to win his next fight on March 22 at the Araneta Coliseum against Raul Martinez to make his highly awaited return duel with Darchinyan possible.

But a month before taking his first fight for 2009, Donaire will be bestowed the major award for professional boxing by the sportswriting fraternity during the San Miguel Corp. PSA Annual Awards Night at the Alegria Lounge of the Manila Pavilion Hotel.

Donaire is among the recipients of the major awards in the Feb. 20 rites sponsored by the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp.(Pagcor).

Other recipients of the major award are basketball star Kelly Williams, chess wonder Wesley So, wushu gold medalist Willy Wang and golfers Dottie Ardina, Angelo Que, Dorothy Delasin and Jennifer Rosales.

Receiving the 2008 Athlete of the Year award is boxing idol Manny Pacquiao, whose victories over Juan Manuel Marquez, David Diaz and legendary Oscar De La Hoya clinched for him the highest accolade given by the PSA for the fifth time in seven years.

Other than the Athlete of the Year honor, the 30-year-old native of General Santos will also be enshrined into the PSA Hall of Fame during the simple, two-hour rites also supported by the Villar Foundation, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Shakey’s Accel, PBA, PBL, NCRAA, PCSO, SBP, Purefoods, Ginebra, Alaska, Sta. Lucia, Rain or Shine, Ever Bilena, Harbour Centre, Liga Pilipinas, Secretary Lito Atienza, Pharex, GAB and Mighty Sports Association.

Donaire was the recipient of the 2007 Athlete of the Year award he shared with swimming champion Miguel Molina.