Nonito Donaire has been friends with Manny Pacquiao for over a decade. He discusses why their relations are special, how important Manny has been to his career, and his ultimate aspirations?
?Manny has been a big part of why I?m here. He has inspired me by showing that there is no impossibility of what a man can do as long as they put their heart and be pure of what they desire inside that ring ? and that is winning. I believe Manny has been a big part of my success, I was inspired by him and a lot of people on the way, like my great friend Andre Ward. You can name all the guys that a kid can be inspired on. Manny was one of them. At the moment, back in 2000, I would try to see managers and they would say, ?I?m sorry kid but you?re not Mexican.? Or ?Sorry kid, you?re not Latino.? ?Sorry kid, you don?t speak Spanish.? So it?s always been that way. Manny has opened that door for me and given me that opportunity. I?m always gonna be grateful to Manny.?
?I know Manny since 2000, 2001. We used to karaoke a lot. That boy can karaoke all day, we love that. We would have a few drinks here and there. The life was real simple back then. It was incredible to see him, the way he was. And the way he is. The way he?s gonna be. I?ll always support Manny. He?ll always be a friend. When I see him, we always have lunch and stuff like that. There?s always that mutual respect.?
When asked if he?s inspired to achieve Pacquiao?s level of success inside and outside the ring, Donaire replies, ?Well, I aspire to be the best of what I can be. That?s one thing I love about boxing ? I want to see ? that?s why I always seek to challenge the best out there. I want to see what weight I can get. That?s the glory of it ? the more you try to move, you?ll see how far you can get. The more your star shines brighter when you try. When you try and do it, you tend to see more of the light. At the end of it all, I hope I?ll see that light closer than to anything. Just doing my best is all that I really want to do. And to see how far it can get. It could be big like Manny or it can be just right now. Doing my best and getting out of that ring and not saying, What if, woulda coulda shoulda. But being proud of what I did ? that?s what I want to do in boxing. Doing my best and see how far I can go.?
