Donaire hailed as Fighter of the Year

MANILA, Philippines - WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. has been named the 2012 Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America.

Donaire clinched the award on strength of a spectacular year wherein he fought and won four times against high-caliber opponents. He decisioned Wilfredo Vazquez in February last year, outpointed Jeffrey Mathebula in July, stopped Toshiaki Nishioka in October, then finally retired Mexican Jorge Arce in December.

This marks the fourth time in the last seven years that a Filipino boxer has won the award – also called the Sugar Ray Robinson award – with boxing icon Manny Pacquiao achieving the feat in 2006, 2008 and 2009.

Donaire plans to sustain the momentum brought by a stellar 2012 by eyeing more marquee fights this year. He is reportedly eyeing a bout against either WBC super bantamweight champion Abner Mares or WBA super bantamweight titlist Guillermo Rigondeaux.

Donaire is targeting to return to the ring by April.

Meanwhile, for his exemplary corner work on Donaire and fellow title holders Mikey Garcia and Brandon Rios, trainer Robert Garcia was hailed as the BWAA’s Trainer of the Year.

The BWAA also recognized the fourth fight between Pacquiao and rival Juan Manuel Marquez last December as its 2012 Fight of the Year. In the action-packed bout that saw vicious exchanges and several knockdowns, Marquez knocked Pacquiao out cold in the sixth round to cap off their storied rivalry.

Pacquiao and Marquez might meet for a fifth time this September.

Other BWAA awardees include Al Haymon (Manager of the Year), HBO boxing panelist Max Kellerman (Excellence in Boxing Journalism), middleweight Danny Jacobs (Courage in Overcoming Adversity), promoter Kathy Duva and matchmaker Bruce Tampler (Barney Nagler awar for “Long and Meritorious Service” in boxing), Showtime broadcaster Steve Farhood (Marvin Kohn “Good Guy” award), Dave Kindred (Nat Fleischer award for “Excellence in Boxing Journalism”) and Peter Finney (A.J. Liebling award for “Outstanding Boxing Writing”).

The BWAA said it will fete the awardees in a banquet in New York this spring.