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Athletes have always had a way of capturing the public’s imagination. When you find a way to put immense talent on the grandest of stages for the world to see you are bound to get a range of emotions coming from the desired spectators. Athletes in general have a chance to become intertwined with people’s lives without any face to face encounters and their achievements in their respective sports are typically inspirational.
But the harsh reality is that for as memorable and rewarding and their success can be, not every professional is as likeable or down to earth as their fans would expect. When money and the taste of fame enter the equation human beings have a way of changing for the worse and you never know what to expect from those in the spotlight on a day to day basis.
I first remember watching interim WBA Super Flyweight champion Nonito Donaire fight on January 20th, 2006. Taking on Kahren Harutyunyan at the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California, Donaire’s skills were on display as the main attraction to a ShoBox: The New Generation telecast. Needless to say, the Filipino gave me something well worth remembering.
Donaire and Harutyunyan matched talents and wits for ten competitive and fast paced rounds. While his Armenian foe was very game and a very solid pugilist, Donaire’s class began to show itself as the rounds passed. Using speed and angles to carry the day as he captured a split decision win, I had a feeling that Donaire would be heard from much more after that.
Donaire’s big break came roughly a year and a half later as he was a heavy underdog against crude champion Vic Darchinyan in July of 2007. Darchinyan had been blitzing his opponents at an alarming rate inside of the ring, as evidenced by his 28-0 record with 22 knockouts, but what stood out the most about the IBF Flyweight champion was his arrogant and vocal nature outside of the ropes.
Vic was upfront about his belief in himself and had a completely dismissive attitude towards the challenge that the younger Donaire posed to him. Using his opponent’s verbal theatrics as motivation, Donaire prepared for the fight as if it was his last.
“It was just about the opportunity,” Donaire reflected of his initial thoughts of preparing to face Darchinyan. “Just the chance to fight for a world championship was what I always wanted. If you want to make it in boxing you have to face that one person who is in your way. By the time I got into that fight it wasn’t about winning or becoming a champion; it was all about wanting to kick his butt for what he said beforehand. That was the whole mentality going into that fight.”
From the ring of the first bell it was obvious that Donaire was a man on a mission that fateful night at the Harbour Yard Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Using his speed and elusiveness to his best capabilities, Donaire frustrated the champion early and began dominating the action in the third round. Things reached a climax in the 5th when Donaire caught Darchinyan with a counter left hook flush on the chin that had Darchinyan sprawled out on the canvas moments later. Vic attempted to rise but stumbled along the ropes as the bout was waived off. Donaire ran around the ring screaming as his championship dream had become a reality.
While that night will always go down as a memorable one in Donaire’s life, his career hasn’t played out the way he would have hoped following the upset win. In the past two and half years Donaire hasn’t fought as much as he would have liked nor has he been able to challenge the opponents that the public has wanted him to see. Donaire’s battles seem to lie just as much outside of the ring as they do inside of the ropes and he could be forgiven for having a slightly pessimistic attitude towards the sport of boxing at times.
Never knowing what was fully going through the head of the 27 year old, I can say I was pleasantly surprised when I finally came face to face with Donaire this past November. Talking about his life and career inside the MGM Grand a few nights before the memorable Manny Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto clash, Donaire was all class as his modesty shined through.
What stood out to me the most during our brief encounter were Donaire’s thoughts on his fight against Raul Martinez this past April. Heading into the bout Martinez was looked at as a formidable challenge to Donaire by some, as his undefeated record spoke true of a well schooled fighter who possessed both talent and heart. Surprising to me, Donaire would end up dominating Martinez early and often during their bout in Metro Manila, knocking down Martinez three times in the first three rounds before finishing the contest off in the 4th with a perfectly timed left uppercut that again floored his foe from San Antonio.
The win was a vintage showcase of a champion who was simply a level above his gritty challenger and anyone looking to point to Donaire’s skills and talents in the ring could easily turn to the Martinez affair. I remember telling Donaire how shocked I was that he was able to beat a fighter like Martinez in the fashion he did and Donaire’s response was that of someone who was completely grounded within himself.
“Raul is a great fighter,” Donaire answered. “In that fight I simply was able to catch him early before he was able to get to me. All it could have taken was one punch and the fight could have been reversed. I was fortunate to have caught him early. But he’s a great fighter and a hell of guy.”
It would have been easy for Donaire to boast, as his performance against Martinez was one of his finer outings in the ring, but he chose to take the high road and almost pin his victory on a little bit of luck. I’ve always been able to appreciate people who are down to earth and Donaire is no exception. Moments later he and his wife Rachel would head out and I remember coming away with a new amount of respect for the guy.
Next up for Donaire is a February 13th clash Gerson Guerrero at the Las Vegas Hilton. While it isn’t the fight that he may have hoped for at this point in his career, as is often the case with Donaire, it is still an essential battle as the ‘Filipino Flash’ must win the contest to continue moving forward with his career. While always trying to stay unbiased with my work towards fighters, I admit that I will be watching Donaire-Guerrero with a keen interest with hopes of Nonito finding a way to pull through. He’s simply that easy to root for.
