| |
|
Donaire recalls Pacman sparring
By Joaquin Henson PhilBoxing.com Sat, 02 Apr 2022

WBC bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire, Jr. will never forget his moments with Sen. Manny Pacquiao in Los Angeles in 2001 before the ring legend defeated Lehlo Ledwaba to wrest the IBF superbantamweight title. Donaire was only 18 with a 1-1 record as a pro.
“I was one of Manny’s sparring partners,” recalled Donaire. “I was staying in an apartment in Los Angeles and Manny was training at the Wild Card Gym. I also went running with him. That was before his first US fight against Ledwaba. I learned a lot from Manny who’s a fast and quick southpaw. We talked and he gave me advice. I was invited to a barbecue with Manny and we sang karaoke. I’ll always be grateful for those moments.”
Curiously, Donaire thought of retiring from the ring after absorbing his first loss in his second fight to Rosendo Sanchez in a five-round bout in Vallejo, California, in March 2001. Pacquiao arrived in the US with manager Rod Nazario to hook up with a trainer and promoter after his knockout win over Wethya Sakmuangklang in Cotabato in April. In June, Pacquiao was in Las Vegas to dethrone Ledwaba. Two weeks before, Donaire was back in the ring to decision Saul Santoyo in a four-rounder in Inglewood, California.
“The only time I thought of retiring after a loss was over 20 years ago in my second fight,” said Donaire. “The second time I thought of retiring was after I beat (Toshiaki) Nishioka in 2012 so it wasn’t after a loss. Maybe, it was because nawalaan na ako ng gana to keep me motivated.” But only two months later, Donaire returned to action and halted Jorge Arce in Houston. His focus was back and he hasn’t looked back since. There were defeats that came his way after the win over Arce to Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nicholas Walters, Jessie Magdaleno, Carl Frampton and Naoya Inoue. Still, Donaire never thought of retiring again, his fire fueled by the goal of becoming an undisputed world champion.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod? By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA , Sat, 12 Jul 2025JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis) By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026 , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8 , Fri, 11 Jul 2025Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25 , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle , Thu, 10 Jul 2025Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy , Thu, 10 Jul 20254 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas , Thu, 10 Jul 2025SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON , Thu, 10 Jul 2025FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships , Wed, 09 Jul 2025James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights” , Wed, 09 Jul 2025GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY , Wed, 09 Jul 2025Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN , Tue, 08 Jul 2025UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA , Mon, 07 Jul 2025 |

|
|
|
|
|