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EMOTIONAL DONAIRE SAYS HE'S READY TO FIGHT By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Fri, 12 Apr 2013  NEW YORK CITY, APRIL 11, 2013 - An emotional Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire received the coveted "Fighter of the Year" award for 2012 from the prestigious Boxing Writers Association of America and said later "I have released all my emotions, now I'm ready to fight." Donaire received a standing ovation when he was declared the winner of an award which was named after all-time great Sugar Ray Robinson as Jack Hirsch, president of the BWAA recalled handing out to eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao the same award which the Filipino boxing icon last won in 2009. This time around Pacquiao, who lost to Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez by a crushing 6th round knockout last December 8, had the painful consolation of his fourth showdown with Marquez being voted as the "Fight of the Year," in the process beating back the challenge of another Filipino WBO and WBA flyweight champion Brian Viloria who won the WBA title with a sensational 10th round stoppage of hard-hitting Mexican Hernan "Tyson" Marquez in November 2012. Donaire told the star-studded gathering which included world champion Bernard Hopkins and former multi-titled world champion and pound for pound king Roy Jones Jr that when he was a kid people teased him and said he was "nothing and was too small and won't achieve anything. But to receive the most prestigious award in boxing amidst some of the legends of boxing is something special. I finally made something of myself that people recognize." In an interview with the Manila Standard and ABS-CBN after receiving the award, Donaire said that he would have "to work hard to repeat the feat" recalling that Pacquiao who inspired him won the "Fighter of the Year" award three times. Donaire vowed "I'll try my best to just keep winning. I will keep challenging the best and see how far I can reach." He said "its more than just entering the ring and winning a fight. I am inspired by what Manny and Gerry (Penalosa, two division world champion) did. Now I am the one to inspire up-nd-coming fighters." As Donaire faces what his team agrees is "the biggest fight of his career" top strength and conditioning coach Mike Bassel told us Donaire "is strong and has been very active for a fighter at his level and has fought 6 fights in 16 months. He fought top level guys. Nonito is not the normal athlete. He is a very exceptional boxer." Bassel said "he is ready for this fight (against Rigondeaux). He is focused" even as he made it clear that Donaire "definitely sees this guy as a serious opponent. In our mind this is the biggest fight of his career. He is fresh and hungry and focused on this fight" even as he dismissed claims that Donaire's attention was distracted by the fact that wife Rachel is expecting their first born around July 21. The four division world champion said in two days when he faces Rigondeaux the former two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist "I will have that fire. I've always had that fire. I want to win every fight for all those who have supported me and especially for the prayers of the Filipinos who have always been there in every situation. I don't want to let them down. I want to win every fight and need to work hard." In a remarkable stare-down after a press conference on Wednesday which appeared to last unusually long, Donaire folded his arms and squared off with Rigondeaux, never blinking for a moment as the Cuban eventually looked down and Donaire had apparently won the first round of a psychological battle. He said Rigondeaux was jealous of the attention he was getting especially from the media and Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who has treated Donaire with the attention normally reserved for boxing superstars. Looking ahead to Saturday's clash which will be telecast in the Philippines by ABS-CBN CHANNEL 2 at 10:15 on Sunday morning with a replay on Studio 23 and a "live" pay-per-view telecast on SkyCable and The Filipino Channel , Arum said " I have a lot of confidence in Nonito. I think Nonito will win this fight but its not going to be without a struggle." Arum hinted "we can look forward maybe to Donaire moving up to featherweight and fighting Juanma Lopez at 126. Remember the champion is Mikey Garcia and it looks like he is going up to 130 to fight Rocky Martinez" which will leave the WBO featherweight title vacant with a Donaire-Lopez battle for the vacant title on the cards. Arum noted that Donaire won the "Fighter of the Year" award thanks to the No.1 network HBO we got the dates, we matched him right and Nonito came through." Earlier in the day Donaire and his small, compact team were welcomed by the world famous "Rockettes" in a sneak preview of the set-up of the boxing ring on the great stage of the historic Radio City Music Hall where Rod Jones Jr defeated David Telesco in a light heavyweight championship fight on January 15, 2000. He told us at the venue that he wants "to make a better fight" than the disappointing shutout unanimous decision win at Madison Square Garden in his first New York appearance against two-division undefeated champion Omar Andres Narvaz who kept back-pedaling all night after tasting the power of Donaire early in the fight. He admitted "there is a grudge because he is the amateur champion and Olympic star but I am getting most of the attention. He is jealous, so we aim to try and knock each other out. A knockout is my goal but if it comes down to twelve rounds its alright as long as the victory is mine." Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.  |
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