MANILA, PHILIPPINES
Manny Pacquiao says Nonito ‘Filipino Flash’ Donaire continues to live up to his nickname
Manny Pacquiao appreciates greatness when he sees one.
After watching Nonito Donaire dethrone Nordine Oubaali in dominant fashion on Saturday, May 29 (Sunday, May 30, Philippine time), the legendary eight-division world champion took to Twitter to laud the fourth-round technical knockout posted by the “Filipino Flash.”
Pacquiao, a certified all-time great still wishing to enhance his ring legacy, tweeted: “Congrats Nonito Donaire on a huge KO win! The oldest WBC bantamweight champion in history. Still living up to your nickname, the Flash! #PinoyPride”
At 38 years old, Donaire also became only the 11th fighter to reign in the world in three decades. (READ: Donaire shocks Oubaali with KO win to clinch WBC crown)
The 42-year-old Pacquiao, of course, is the lone fighter to become world champion in four decades.
Pacquiao, who became the oldest welterweight champion ever when he handed the then-unbeaten Keith Thurman a split decision loss two years ago in Las Vegas, Nevada, will try to raise the age bar further on August 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Always ready for tough challenges, Pacquiao will try to wrest Errol Spence’s World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation’s 147-pound crowns.
After disposing of Oubaali in Carson, California, Donaire reiterated his desire for a rematch with the “Monster” Naoya Inoue, who narrowly beat him 18 months ago in Saitama, Japan.
Inoue, a highly ranked pound-for-pound like Spence, watched the Donaire-Oubaali encounter and was clearly impressed.
“Donaire is strong!!!!!” Inoue said in a tweet translated by Google.
Inoue knows Donaire deserves another title shot and it could happen within the year or the next. – Rappler.com
