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This article is about Nonito Donaire, Jr.. For the boxer who is also known as "Flash", see Gabriel Elorde.
Nonito Donaire, Jr. (born on November 16, 1982), is a Filipino-American professional boxer. He was born in Talibon, Bohol, raised in General Santos City in the Philippines, and moved to the United States at the age of ten. He is currently the WBA interim world champion in the super flyweight, and is rated by Ring Magazine as the #6 pound-for-pound best boxer in the world. He is also the former IBF and IBO flyweight champion of the world.
[edit] Early lifeNonito Jr. was born in Talibon, Bohol and grew up in General Santos City. It was in General Santos that Donaire would go to the same school as boxing icon Manny Pacquiao[1]. His father Nonito Sr., a second year high school dropout, was in the Philippine Army for eight years and fought as an amateur before trying his luck alone in the US in 1990. By 1993, Nonito Jr. had joined the elder Nonito in Van Nuys, California. During their younger years, Nonito Jr. and his brother Glenn would spar, with the younger brother being beaten often. As a kid, Nonito Jr. watched videos of his hero Alexis Arguello, using them to learn how to throw his powerful left hook[1]. While in San Lorenzo High School in San Lorenzo, California, the brothers won an assortment of regional and district amateur boxing championships[2]. [edit] Amateur careerNonito won three national amateur championships. The National Silver Gloves in 1998, National Junior Olympics in 1999, and the National USA Tournament in 2000. Donaire also won the International Junior Olympics in 1999.[3][dead link] Both brothers reached the final stages of the lightflyweight US Olympic trials in 2000 and were eliminated by the same fighter, fellow Filipino-American Brian Viloria, who eventually became former WBC world light flyweight champion.[citation needed] Nonito Donaire's amateur record was 68-8 with 5 TKO's.[citation needed] [edit] Professional careerExasperated by their failure to get past Viloria, Nonito Jr. turned down an offer for a boxing scholarship at Northern Michigan University to turn professional with his brother in 2001. They signed up with female promoter Jackie Kallen, who paid the boys a monthly salary of $1,500 each. After four pro fights, where he lost his second, Nonito Jr. with Glenn had broken off with Kallen and returned to Manila in 2001 with their father. Initially mulling to restart their careers in the Philippines, they decided to go back to the better facilities in San Leandro, where their father felt there were less distractions[2]. Nonito Donaire won his first regional title by defeating Kaichon Sor Vorapin for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific flyweight title in Guam on 9 September 2002. Donaire knocked out the future world title challenger in the second round. Donaire won his second regional title, the NABF super flyweight title, by defeating Kahren Harutyunyan on Shobox by split decision on 20 January 2006. The scores were 97-92 twice for Donaire and 95-94 for Harutyunan.[4][unreliable source?] October 7, 2006, Donaire added the NABO super flyweight title and successfully defended it against veteran Oscar Andrade by the scores of 118-109 and 116-112 twice. His older brother, Glenn Donaire, fought and lost to Vic Darchinyan on the same night. A 7-1 underdog, Donaire won the IBF flyweight title with a 5th round knockout of the then-undefeated Vic Darchinyan on July 7, 2007.[5] This victory was awarded Ring Magazine's "Knockout of the Year" and "Upset of the Year" on December 23, 2007.[6][7][8] On July 31, 2007, Donaire met Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo along with Florante Condes, who won the IBF minimumweight title on the same weekend as Donaire. Donaire said the experience was “an overwhelming feeling. It was indescribable. The moment I walked up the stairs and she was up there and when I looked it was a moment when I couldn’t even look at her face. It was a great honor.”[9] On December 1, 2007, Donaire defended his title against Luis Maldonado of Mexico by technical knockout in the 8th round in his first title defense to keep his IBF flyweight crown. Donaire stated: "I guess my validation was today but I didn't feel my best; I felt sluggish. I didn't have my legs. I don't know what the problem was. I couldn't move well so I tried to rely on my upper body movement."[10] On February 16, 2008, in Manila, Philippines, Donaire received the Philippine Sports Award for 2007 Athlete of the Year, alongside amateur swimmer Miguel Molina. In late June 2008, Donaire severed ties with promoter Gary Shaw because the number of fights had not matched the number stated in the contract and Shaw had failed to properly disclose revenue from previous fights as stated under the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act.[11] Days after leaving Gary Shaw Productions, he would sign with Top Rank Boxing.[12] Donaire, on November 2, 2008, retained his International Boxing Federation flyweight world title via a 6th-round (1:31) technical knockout of Moruti Mthalane.[13][14][15] On April 19, 2009, Donaire faced flyweight Raul Martinez for his third defense of his IBF Flyweight title at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines. Donaire scored the TKO after 2:42 into the 4th round.[16] Because of his victory over Martinez, Donaire was included for the first time in the Ring Magazine pound for pound rankings, in the 7th spot.[17] The IBF ordered a mandatory rematch between Donaire and previous challenger Moruti Mthalane by August 1, 2009. Their first encounter had ended in a TKO victory for Donaire after the ringside doctor stopped the fight due to a cut sustained by Mthalane.[18] However, Donaire's agent has expressed interest in moving up to the junior bantamweight/super flyweight division at 115 pounds.[19] Initially, Donaire was set to face Hugo Cazares for the WBA super flyweight interim title on August 15, 2009.[20] However, talks for the bout had fell through. Rafael Concepción of Panama then replaced Cazares as Donaire's opponent for that bout, which headlined the card titled "Pinoy Power 2".[21] Because Concepcion failed to weigh within the super flyweight limit (115 lbs.), only Donaire, who made weight successfully, can win the title.[22] Donaire won the bout via unanimous decision. [edit] Minor titles and other recognitionsTitles
[edit] World Titles
[edit] Other infoOn January 22, 2008, Donaire proposed on camera to Rachel Marcial,a Filipino-American USA National Collegiate and Military Taekwondo Champion[23]. [24] They were married on August 8, 2008 in a private ceremony in Carmel, California, with all their close relatives.[25]. Nonito Jr. has been trained by the Peñalosa brothers — Gerry, Dodie Boy and Jonathan — since the training camp for the match against Martinez in April 2009. For the Concepcion match, Donaire added conditioning coach Mike Bazzel to supplement Dodie Boy and Jonathan Peñalosa in their camp at the Undisputed Gym in San Carlos, a Bay Area suburb near San Mateo. Two days after the win over Concepcion, he arrived to a rousing welcome in Manila, where he was feted in a motorcade by Mayor Alfredo Lim. He also had TV guest appearances and joined the third season of Celebrity Duets episodes on GMA 7[2].. Donaire is also featured in Fight Night 4.[26] His cousin, Richard Donaire, is also a professional boxer.[27] [edit] References
25.^ Nonito Donaire defeats Rafael Conception to win the WBA title http://philboxing.com/news/story-26511.html [edit] External links
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