Back when I spoke to him last March, IBO and IBF Flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. (21-1, 14 knockouts) was stuck between a rock and a hard place. People who follow boxing closely know how good he is but after his signature knockout victory over Vic Darchinyan in 2007, instead of catapulting his career, the win seemed to have put a jinx on him.
After seizing Danchinyan?s belts, Nonito got into a much publicized dispute he had with former promoter Gary Shaw that ended in a nasty break-up and Nonito having to sit out for almost a year. Shaw promoted both Nonito and Darchinyan at the time they squared off for a title-fight, and it was clear from the beginning that Shaw would have preferred his favorite client in Darchinyan to have come out on top. Instead, Nonito?s sensational knockout almost destroyed Darchinyan?s marketability and career altogether. In Darchinyan?s last victory over Jorge Arce last January, Shaw publicly bashed Nonito again and reiterated that he would not allow a rematch between Nonito and Darchinyan.
Then there was his feud with his father and former trainer Nonito Donaire Sr. last year which also led to a bitter split. Personal family matters and money were said to have been reasons for the split. On top of that, Nonito was being strafed by the biggest names in and around his division. Nonito may have been one of the best at the time but he was still relatively unknown and would be a big risk, low reward proposition for the sport?s marquee names. He also went through some issues with his fight schedule. His most recent fight was re-scheduled a few times and at one point was almost cancelled.
Throughout all the adversity though, Nonito remained optimistic and with the support of his wife Rachel Marcial- Donaire, he kept his eyes on the prize and continued to work hard and train. Nonito trained with the Penalosa brothers in the Philippines to prepare for his bout against Raul Martinez which resulted in a masterful four-round knockout victory over the then undefeated contender. That win reminded the world of how good this kid really is and started making analysts and experts consider Nonito as one of the sport?s finest.
And that they did.
In Ring magazine and ESPN?s most recent boxing P4P list, Nonito cracked the top 10 at #8 ahead of Darchinyan, Arce, Montiel and Mijares- names that were linked to Nonito as the best in the lower weight classes. And just like Manny Pacquiao before him, Nonito went through the eye of the needle to get to this point. He more than earned his status of being one of the sports best.
Next up for Donaire is a possible bout with Jose ?Carita? Lopez (39-7, 32 knockouts). San Francisco Boxing Examiner Colin Seymour wrote in his column that the bout may be held at the San Francisco Ballpark in the 22nd of August. Nonito will be going up in weight to challenge for Lopez?s WBO belt in115 pound division.
With Nonito?s newfound status as one of the sport?s best, will the Darchinyan camp finally bute and try to redeem themselves? Or will Gary Shaw?s personal vendetta over Nonito get in the way of one of the most anticipated rematches in boxing? Either way, Nonito has a bright future ahead of him, and has nothing to prove against Darchinyan. Darchinyan needs the rematch more than he does. After all, he did knock him out cold didn?t he?
