A CHAMPION whose success easily enters his head would just shrug off the incident, or at most sarcastically wish a beleaguered compatriot all the best.
But for Filipino world flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr., the gallant but losing effort of one-time world title challenger Czar Amonsot last weekend made him prouder to be a Filipino.
“Even though he lost the fight, his performance made me really proud of being a Filipino. Bata pa naman siya and I know he can be a world champion soon,” said Donaire while having dinner at the posh Discovery Suites the other night.
Donaire, who was born in Talibon, Bohol and raised in General Santos City, sincerely wishes Amonsot full recovery as he feels that the Tagbilaran City native fighter has what it takes to give the country more honor as a boxer.
The 24-year-old Donaire is actually excited about the prospect of seeing Amonsot and his other fellow up-and-coming Filipino fighters conquer and eventually dominate the world of boxing.
“Honestly, he surpassed my expectations. Hindi siya dapat mahiya sa performance niya kahit natalo siya. Not to take anything away from his opponent but Amonsot won the hearts of fight fans that night,” said Donaire. “I can’t wait to see him in action again. Sana maka-recover siya agad.”
The San Leandro, California-based Donaire stayed in Tagbilaran City yesterday upon the invitation of Mayor Dan Neri Lim before motoring to their hometown in Talibon, Bohol today. On Friday, Donaire along with minimumweight world champion Florante Condes will pay President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo a courtesy call in Malaca?ang.
The 21-year-old Amonsot lost via unanimous decision to World Boxing Organization (WBO) interim lightweight champion Michael Katsidis of Australia in their 12-round bout held Sunday morning (Manila time) at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.
After the brutal bout that saw Amonsot coming back from two knockdown and turn Katsidis’s face into a mess with four nasty cuts, the Boholano was rushed to the Valley Medical Center in Las Vegas.
It was later discovered that Amonsot suffered a subdural hematoma outside of his brain which, according to the boxer’s manager Michael Aldeguer, is neither life nor career threatening.
“It’s like a black eye. All he needs is to take a rest and it will go away,” said Aldeguer who’s been in Amonsot’s side since the boxer was admitted to the hospital.
Amonsot underwent three CT Scans and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and all had encouraging results.
Aldeguer added that Amonsot will take a three- to six-month rest before thinking of even planning a comeback.
Reports, however, are coming out from the Nevada State Athletic Commission that Amonsot may have a hard time getting a license in the state due to the medical situation the fighter is going through at the moment.
