Nonito captivates with Pinoy class

MANILA, Philippines - The year 2012 clearly belonged to WBO superbantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. who swept his four assignments – each a world title fight, became a $1 million earner and kept his lofty position in the world’s top 10 pound-for-pound ratings. The Filipino Flash was in his element as he beat Wilfredo Vazquez Jr., Jeffrey Mathebula, Toshiaki Nishioka and Jorge Arce in succession, scoring knockdowns in every bout.

Although he showed a bleeding left hand after the Vazquez and Nishioka fights, Donaire was none the worse for wear in ending 2012 with a resounding third round disposal of Arce only two weeks ago. And the coup de grace was a left hook to the jaw. Donaire, 30, hasn’t lost in his last 30 fights dating back to 2001 and is clearly Manny Pacquiao’s heir apparent as the new Filipino ring hero.

Donaire has a lot of catching up to do if he hopes to someday even duplicate Pacquiao’s achievements. At the moment, he’s a man on a mission and in a hurry to establish himself as a marquee pay-per-view draw. So far, Donaire has captured world titles in three different divisions – seizing the IBF/IBO flyweight, WBC/WBO bantamweight and WBO/IBF superbantamweight belts. He also held the interim WBA superflyweight crown but was never recognized as the regular champion.

There’s no doubt that Donaire will remain competitive at the featherweight, superfeatherweight and lightweight classes as he matures. He probably won’t match Pacquiao’s record of eight championships in eight divisions but he’ll come close. What sets Donaire apart from others is his high boxing IQ. He creates angles for his shots with his speed and footwork, is hard to hit and has a killer’s instinct. Donaire does it all with class and a polished style. It’s no wonder that as the year comes to an end, The Ring Magazine ranked Donaire No. 6 in the pound-for-pound ladder behind welterweight Floyd Mayweather Jr., supermiddleweight Andre Ward, welterweight Juan Manuel Marquez, middleweight Sergio Martinez and lightweight Adrien Broner.

Last year, Donaire fought only twice, knocking out Fernando Montiel in two and decisioning Omar Narvaez. He sat out seven months in between both fights to settle a contractual issue with Top Rank. When the parties finally came to terms, Donaire vowed to make up for lost time and Top Rank chairman Bob Arum obliged. Donaire began the year with a win by split decision over Vazquez for the vacant WBO superbantamweight throne in San Antonio last February. Vazquez was floored in the ninth round but got up to survive the distance. Judges Levi Martinez and Don Trella scored it 117-110, both for Donaire, but judge Ruben Garcia saw it 115-112 for Vazquez. In July, Donaire was back in the ring to whip Mathebula via a unanimous 12-round decision punctuated by a knockdown in the fourth round. This time, the judges were in unison as Deon Dwarte had it 119-108, Jonathan Davis 117-110 and Steve Morrow 118-109 for the Filipino Flash.

In October, Donaire was sensational in sending Nishioka into retirement at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California. A left uppercut decked the Japanese in the sixth round and signaled the beginning of the end. Dominating the action, Donaire landed a right straight that sent Nishioka down once more in the ninth. Nishioka courageously got up but his legs were rubbery. Referee Raul Caiz Sr. waved it off as Nishioka’s corner threw in the towel. It was Nishioka’s first loss in eight years and Donaire proved himself as a two-fisted knockout puncher. After the fight, Donaire showed that the skin split open in between the first and second knuckles of his left hand, staining his wraps with blood. He later took eight stitches to sew up the gash. Luckily, doctors saw no fracture or broken bones.

With the promise of a $1 million paycheck, Donaire wouldn’t turn down the chance to battle Arce in Houston only two months after demolishing Nishioka. Donaire confessed he would’ve sat out the rest of the year if Arce didn’t step up to the plate. He knew it would an easy fight because the shop-worn Arce is a unidimensional warrior. The outcome was as Donaire expected. Arce was floored once in the second and twice in the third before referee Laurence Cole stepped in with the Mexican out on his feet from a left hook to the jaw.

 Arum said he has big plans for Donaire next year and mentioned the possibility of staging a major promotion in Macau. Although he has overtaken Pacquiao in the pound-for-pound ratings, Donaire said he could never see himself competing with his idol’s popularity.

“Manny pretty much opened the door for other Filipino fighters,” said Donaire quoted by Michael Rosenthal in The Ring Magazine. â€œAnd it was more than that for me. I had an issue with self-esteem, about what I could do. I never doubted my athletic ability but I asked myself, ‘Do I have the heart? Am I brave enough?’ Then, I saw someone with the humble beginnings that Manny had and what he accomplished and it inspired me. Now, I have the mentality that I could do anything as long as I try my best. Manny gave that to me. He’s my inspiration. And now, I want to inspire other people.”

Donaire said he hopes to unify the superbantamweight titles by facing WBA champion Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba and WBC titleholder Abner Mares of Mexico who are in his wish list for 2013. Once he has swept the opposition in the 122-pound class, Donaire said he’ll move up to the featherweight class where champions Daniel Ponce de Leon, Orlando Salido, Billy Dib and Chris John await his invasion. If Yuriorkis Gamboa drops to featherweight, Donaire said he’ll take him on, too. â€œI don’t choose my opponents,” said Donaire. â€œI’ll fight anyone out there, no matter who he is. I leave the picking to my manager Cameron Dunkin and my promoter Bob Arum.”

As for the future, Donaire said he’d like to box as long as he can, like Bernard Hopkins. â€œI want to accomplish a lot,” he said, quoted by Joseph Santoliquito of The Ring Magazine. â€œI want to one day be a Hall of Famer. I want to see how far I can go with boxing. Training keeps me going. I love to box and it’s the first time in my life that I can say that. So I want to keep it going. I hated boxing at one time because I was forced into it. Now each day, I look forward to training. When I’m not training, I get antsy and hotheaded and impatient. This time, I’m boxing for me. I’m finally boxing for myself. I’m confident when I enter that ring. There’s no fear. I have a different view of boxing and a different life than before. I’m a happy man.”