Donaire to honor Ninoy, Cory today

MANILA, Philippines - Newly crowned interim WBA superflyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. will pay tribute to the late Sen. Ninoy Aquino and former President Cory Aquino in a ceremonial turnover of his title belt, fighting robe and trunks to the surviving family at the Don Bosco parish church in Makati this morning.

Donaire dedicated his victory over Rafael Concepcion in Las Vegas last Saturday to the late Mrs. Aquino and in a display of Filipino pride, chose to fight the Panamanian – who failed to make the 115-pound limit – instead of claiming his $150,000 purse without raising a sweat.

According to his wife Rachel, Donaire had the option to cancel the fight when he made the superflyweight limit and Concepcion didn’t. He could’ve walked away with his purse plus $6,500 which was his share of Concepcion ‘s penalty for failing to make the weight.

But Donaire refused to take the money and run. Even if he knew Concepcion would outweigh him by over 10 pounds when the fight started, Donaire decided to go on with the bout anyway. Concepcion ended up scaling 134 pounds for the fight and Donaire, 122. The weight disparity is more pronounced in the lighter weight categories where three to five pounds make the difference between classes.

Donaire and Rachel will attend the Mass celebrated by Don Bosco parish priest Fr. Manny Domingo at 10:30 this morning to commemorate Sen. Aquino’s assassination in 1983. Then, he will give the WBA championship belt, his yellow Everlast robe with the inscriptions “ I. M. O. (in memory of) the late President Cory Aquino” and his yellow boxing trunks (with “Aquino” emblazed on the back waistband) to the Aquino family in what is expected to be an emotional tribute in a private room at the church.

Expected to attend the Mass are close friends and relatives of the Aquino clan, former President Aquino’s Cabinet members, La Salle‘s Bro. Armin Luistro and Bro. Bernie Oca and Solar owners William, Wilson and Willie Tieng.

It was the Aquinos’ eldest grandchild Jiggy Cruz who texted GMA’s Chino Trinidad expressing thanks for Donaire’s gesture of honoring the late President. His text read: “We are truly honored. My Lola would always be proud of athletes representing the country. She also watched his last fight when she was still alive.”

Jiggy’s mother Ballsy Aquino-Cruz spoke to Trinidad, who covered the fight in Las Vegas, thanking Donaire for his tribute.

After the Mass, Donaire and Rachel will join the Aquino family for lunch at 11 Palm Avenue, Forbes Park . The home is where Mrs. Aquino’s parents lived and is now used for family occasions. It is where the Aquinos and Cojuangcos gather for lunch after Mass commemorating Sen. Aquino’s death in each of the last 26 years.

Star columnist Popoy Juico said the lunch is a private family affair but the Aquinos particularly requested Donaire and his wife to attend.

As for refusing to take his purse and not fight, boxing analyst Moy Lainez said it was an honorable thing to do. Lainez recalled that in the third fight between Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo, Corrales walked away with his purse and cancelled the bout when Castillo couldn’t make the weight. The promoter supposedly paid Corrales his entire purse then sued Castillo for damages to get back the money. A contrary report, however, said Corrales was not paid his $1.2 million purse when he declined to fight.

But Rachel yesterday confirmed Donaire would’ve been paid his entire purse by Top Rank chairman Bob Arum even if he cancelled the fight because Concepcion was overweight.

As for his decision to dedicate the fight to former President Aquino, Donaire said, “I’m not really into politics but I remember growing up that she was a big part of everyone’s lives in the Philippines – she made changes and tried to get the Philippines back on track and better after Marcos.”

Donaire said, “As a Filipino fighter and a Filipino, I give respect to those who have done well and continue to do well for our country – this fight was dedicated to President Aquino’s memory.”

Donaire requested Everlast to prepare a yellow robe and fighting trunks with inscriptions to honor President Aquino and the boxing equipment company complied in just a few days. “I thank Everlast for making them on such short notice and for their understanding,” he said.