No Filipino reigns as a world boxing champion today — not even Manny Pacquiao although he’s considered to be among the top three fighters in the planet, pound-for-pound.
This year, four Filipinos have so far tried to win a world title — with no success. Diosdado Gabi, Rodel Mayol, Randy Suico and Michael Domingo were thwarted in their bids. Adding to the woes, Brian Viloria lost the World Boxing Council (WBC) lightflyweight crown to Omar Nino Romero.
But Glenn (The Filipino Bomber) Donaire hopes to end the jinx when he takes on unbeaten International Boxing Federation (IBF) and International Boxing Organization (IBO) flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan of Australia in a 12-round title fight at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas this morning (Manila time).
It’s a tall order for Donaire, a late replacement for Argentinian champion Omar Narvaez. Darchinyan, 30, is an iron-fisted warrior with a 26-0 record, including 21 KOs, and looked invulnerable when he stopped Gabi in the eighth round last March.
But Donaire?s manager Cameron Dunkin said Darchinyan is in for a surprise.
“Donaire asked for this fight,” said Dunkin. “Darchinyan is a tough, hard-punching guy. We have a lot of respect for him. But my guy can really fight and he has been waiting for this opportunity for a long time and he?s not going to blow it. He?s really excited about the fight.”
Donaire, 26, was born in General Santos City. His father Nonito served in the Philippine Army for eight years and fought as an amateur before migrating to the US in 1990. After a year, Donaire’s mother Imelda and sister Lucky Ermie followed in Van Nuys, California. In 1993, the last wave of the family arrived in the US — Donaire, brother Nonito, Jr and sister Rosiel.
Donaire took to boxing like fish to water. With Nonito, Jr., he joined amateur competitions and won a wide assortment of regional and district championships. The brothers reached the final stage of the lightflyweight US Olympic trials in 2000 and were eliminated by the same fighter, Viloria.
Donaire turned pro in August 2000 and raced to a 6-0 record, knocking out all his opponents, until he lost a disputed six-round decision to Gabriel Elizondo who was floored twice. He moved back here to fight for two years then returned to the US.
Last year, Donaire was halted by another Filipino prospect Z Gorres in the first round in Las Vegas. Donaire claimed he was thumbed and couldn’t see after suffering a knockdown but referee Jay Nady ignored the complaint and stopped the bout.
“Glenn took the Gorres fight on short notice and I don’t think that is indicative of who Glenn is,” said promoter Gary Shaw. “He’s a very skilled fighter but I recognize that Darchinyan throws bricks and there isn’t anyone he can?t take out with one punch. Glenn will have to fight smart and box and shoot his shots down the middle to be competitive. If he does that, Vic will be in for a very tough fight.”
Since the Gorres fight, Donaire has not lost in four outings to improve his record to 16-2-1, with nine KOs. He’s coming off a win over Cesar Lopez by a unanimous 12-round decision for the North American flyweight crown.
Darchinyan, a southpaw, has won his last eight fights by knockout. In a devastating display of raw power, he poleaxed Irene Pacheco in only 44 seconds to wrest the IBF flyweight diadem in Hollywood two years ago. The Armenian native, known as “The Raging Bull,” has since repulsed four challengers
In the main event of the Mandalay Bay card dubbed “ManiFist Destiny,” WBC lightweight titleholder Diego Corrales stakes his crown against Cuban challenger Joel Casamayor in a rubber match.
Donaire’s brother Nonito, Jr., 23, will also see action. He defends his North American Boxing Federation superflyweight title against Mexico?s Oscar Andrade. Nonito, Jr. boasts a 15-1 record, with nine KOs, and has won his last 14 matches.
Don Familton, who used to train the Donaire brothers, said: “They’re crowd pleasers. They’re disciplined kids with a terrific work ethic and tremendous dedication to succeed. They eat, sleep and drink boxing. They’re surprisingly mature for their age. If I were a promoter, I’d take a chance with these kids.”
