Frustrated Olympian and now two-time world champion Nonito Donaire Jr. still dreams of gifting his country of origin, the Philippines, its first Olympic gold medal.
Having turned pro, he is aware though that he can no longer do that by way of his talents atop the ring, but to realize the dream, he wants to help attain that by offering the facilities of the Undisputed Gym he helped built in San Carlos, California to the Philippine boxing team preparing for the coming Asian Games and for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
As an amateur fighting as a light-flyweight, Donaire nearly made it to the United States team to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games by advancing to the division finals of the Olympic trials where he lost to another Fil-Am, and fellow-two-time world title holder Brian Viloria.
?It (Undisputed Gym) is where I currently train,? the 27-year-old Donaire disclosed during yesterday?s press conference held at the GMA Broadcast Center.
?It has everything that a fighter needs whether you are an amateur or a professional. Best of all they have great staff out there from chiropractor, to nutritionists and trainers,? the Bohol-born Donaire said.
?It has always been my dream to win that Olympic gold. I did not win it for the U.S. Now, perhaps I can help win that elusive gold for the Philippines by offering the needed facilities,? he said.
Donaire recalled that following his loss to Viloria in the finals of the U.S. Olympic trials, He went back to the Philippines with his US-based father Nonito Sr. and brother Glenn in tow, and offered to then Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines leadership their services to fight for the Philippine team.
The ABAP top honchos back then turned down their offer because the team had already been formed. Before yesterday?s luncheon press conference, a motorcade around the metropolis was held in his honor by TV network GMA where the youthful boxer recently signed a showbiz deal.
Donaire said he is making the offer to ABAP after learning that the current national team members are set to embark on a training trip in San Francisco and Los Angeles next month.
Donaire (24-1, 16 KO?s) is coming off an 8th round TKO destruction of Mexican Hernan Marquez last July 10 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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