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?A WORD SPOKEN IN DUE SEASON, HOW GOOD IT IS? By Epifanio M. Almeda PhilBoxing.com Tue, 04 Dec 2007 While anxiously waiting for the start of the Nonito Donaire, Jr.-Luis Maldonado fight which was about to be shown on the 4 big screens installed inside the Araneta Coliseum last 2 December 2007, philboxing.com owner Dong Secuya assured this writer, ?Da-og na si Donaire bai. TKO sa 8th, gi-knockdown si Maldonado sa 7th? (Donaire has won. TKO in the 8th, having knocked Maldonado down in the 7th). For the information of the world boxing public, ?Donaire? is pronounced ?Doo-nigh-ree? in the Philippines. I usually don?t welcome any advance word on the result of a significant fight I watch on a delayed basis on TV. But Dong?s word spoken at that fretful moment was most welcome and it made me feel very glad. It was indeed ?a word spoken in due season?, and ?how good it? was. As a Filipino boxing enthusiast, I have been saddened a lot of times in the past of Filipino boxing champions losing their titles in their 1st or 2nd defense. The Donaire 1st defense of his IBF/IBO titles was dubbed as an ?Affirmation Fight?. Not a few still believe that Donaire?s 5th round knockout win over the fearsome Vic Darchinyan was merely by luck. A Donaire loss would have sank again the hearts of Filipino fight fans to the lowest depths of dismay. By soundly beating the more experienced and determined Maldonado before scoring the 7th round knockdown and the ensuing 8th round stoppage, Donaire affirmed his stature as a no non-sense world flyweight champion. When the Filipino fight fans craved for a successful 1st defense, Nonito, Jr. delivered in bold exclamation points. With the way Nonito exhibited his skills, power, and ring intelligence, he might outgrow the flyweight division sooner than any of the other world flyweight title holders could finally have the courage to accept his challenge for unification fights. The word on Nonito?s devastating win seems to be not good news to the other flyweight division champions. The author, lawyer Eppie Almeda is shown here judging the Bautista-Meza fight (bigger pic below) on Dec. 2 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City. While Nonito, Jr. is presently a US citizen, he proudly flaunts his Filipino identity in his ring moniker ?The Filipino Flash?. This was clearly spelled out by ring announcer Jimmy Lennon, Jr. to the delight of the Filipino boxing fans? ears. The display of the big Philippine flag in his ring corner asserts Nonito, Jr.?s desire to be embraced as a Filipino by Filipinos. And Filipinos have since embraced Nonito, Jr. as a fighter who has given them a cause for joy and they would continue to relish his affirmation win for many days to come. Interviewed live by prominent sportswriter Quinito Henson after his emphatic win, Nonito, Jr. fittingly thanked the ALA Gym management and the ALA boys who provided him with world class training facilities and likewise world class sparring sessions. He likewise thanked his fans for their support. Dong Secuya?s word on Nonito, Jr.?s win was a welcome word spoken in due season. Nonito, Jr.?s win was a welcome win in due season. And IBF/IBO world flyweight champion Nonito Donaire, Jr.?s word in giving credit where credit is due is, as proverb 15:23 says, ?a word spoken in due season, how good it is?. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Epifanio M. Almeda. |
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