WHILE most Filipino boxers dream of fighting and living permanently in the United States, world champion Nonito Donaire, Jr. insists it has always been his dream to find solace in the country both as a fighter and as a citizen.
And Donaire, who along with swimmer Miguel Molina will be feted by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) as 2007 Athletes of the Year, is always proud to proclaim his Filipino lineage.
?When we were starting It was hard for me to get a fight simply because I am a Filipino. I fought for that and it never crossed my mind that I should consider myself American just to get a fight,? said Donaire, Jr. ?It was tough but now it was worth every effort to showcase not only my talent but also my kababayans as world class athletes.?
Donaire said he is thankful that current boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao opened the doors for all Filipino boxers to at least gain the respect of American boxing promoters.
Donaire has been living in San Leandro, California together with his father, Nonito, Sr. and older brother Glenn who is also a professional boxer.
Though, Donaire?s father admits he had to work abroad to make both ends meet for his growing family, he never fails to remind his children about their home country.
?Dito sa bahay bisaya o tagalog dapat ang salita kasi paglabas nila ng bahay ingles naman usapan nila,? said Donaire, Sr. ?It?s my way of reminding them Pilipinas pa din ang bansa naming at ayaw ko na pag-uwi nila ay parang sila pa ang dayuhan sa atin.?
Donaire Sr. tried his luck in the US sometime in 1990 when he learned that his father was an American citizen who lived in Hawaii.
?Three years old pa lang ako nung namatay yung father. When I learned na pwede akong mag-citizen sa US, Nagpunta na ako para mag trabaho,?: said Donaire, Sr who first worked as a welder for a bus firm in Hayward, California.
Donaire, Sr. brough his sons Nonito, Jr. and Glenn when both were 9 and 11, respectively. The elder Donaire, who is a former amateur boxer when he was still commissioned in the Philippine Army, actually had no plans of seeing his kids enter boxing.
It was only when Glenn, then enrolled at San Lorenzo High School in California, got involved with Filipino gangs that he decided to keep his kids busy with sports activities.
?Si Glenn kasi madalas nasusupindi sa school dahil sa pagsali niya sa mga Filipino gang kaya I decided to enroll him sa isang boxing gym,? said Donaire, Sr. ?Si Junjun (Donaire, Jr.) naman sa karate ko isinali.?
When Glenn started to bring home trophies, the younger Donaire felt he had to try boxing to keep in step with his older brother?s accomplishment.
Weighing about 65 pounds, a then 11-year-old Donaire fought his first amateur pick-up fight and decisioned a much taller Mexican kid in their area.
?Yung una niyang kalaban nabigyan ng standing eight count. Two weeks later nag-rematch sila, dalawang standing eight naman ang binigay sa Mexican kaya nanalo uli,? said Donaire ?Masaya na kami nakaka-punta kami sa ibang lugar para sumali sa mga tournament. We never thought aabot kami sa Olympic trials.?
Both Glenn and Nonito, Jr qualified for the US Olympic trials and were a win away from making the 2000 Sydney Games but both lost what they considered as controversial points decision to Hawaiian Brian Viloria who, just like the Donaires, traces his roots in the Philippines.
?He was already being hyped as a potential professional star and had an American promoter even while he was still an amateur,? said the young Donaire.
Donaire, Sr. was able to contact Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) president Manny Lopez after that bitter loss to Viloria but was later informed the Philippine team was already complete.
?Ang sa akin katuwaan lang talaga yung boxing. Pero sila na nagdesisyon na mag-professional na sila,? said Donaire, Sr.
Donaire ended his amateur career by winning three national amateur tournaments. The National Silver Gloves in 1998, National Junior Olympics in 1999, and the National USA Tournament in 2000. He also won the International Junior Olympics in 1999.
In turning pro Glenn and Nonito, Jr have worn the Philippine flag on their trunks their entire career. The younger Donaire wears red boxing trunks while Glenn wears blue boxing trunks to represent the Philippine flag.
After 19 pro fights, Donaire, Jr., nicknamed the Filipino Flash, shocked the boxing world as he annihilated the seemingly invincible Vic ?the Raging Bull? Darchinyan inside five rounds July of last year at the Harbour Yard Arena Saturday in Bridgeport City in Connecticut.
Donaire dominated the whole fight with precision, counterpunching and made the usually awkward Darchinyan look amateurish.
?I came in here as an underdog, nobody believed in me but I did it. He has heavy hands but my brother said he [Darchinyan] isn?t as tough as he thinks he is. I shut him up but he still won?t admit that I beat him,? Donaire said.
Many felt it was a sweet payback for the Donaire family as Darchinyan once inflicted Junior?s older brother Glenn a crushing defeat.
Despite that win over his brother, Donaire said he was not really thinking of getting back at his brother?s tormentor.
?So much for revenge or anything,? Donaire said. ?Glenn was really doing well with our game plan but unfortunately he broke his jaw. This is not much of a revenge for me. I?m just happy and [prepared] for this fight.?
Donaire scored a successful title defense as he finished off highly-rated Luis Maldonado of Mexico December of last year also in Connecticut.
Donaire is about to create history as being the first-ever boxer to be involved in a world title clash in the Middle East. He is set to defend his world flyweight crown against tough Australia-based Lebanese Hussein Hussein on April 18 in Dubai.
?Maari ngang natalo si Hussein kay Jorge Arce pero hindi namin siya pwedeng maliitin kasi gusto namin matiyak ang panalo dahil may plano ang promoter naming na magdepensa kami sa Pilipinas,? said Donaire, Sr. ?Yun talaga ang pangarap namin dahil gusto kong ipagmalaki ng mga anak ko na Pinoy na Pinoy kami.?
