Nonito Donaire Jr. is a totally different person inside and outside the ring. He plays a passionate boxer ready for the kill in every match and transforms into an arts enthusiast when it’s over.
“You won’t see my personality as a boxer outside the ring,” offers the Pinoy pugilist. “I’m more of a happy guy who seems not know how to fight. (I’m) someone who loves music and artistic stuff.”
Nonito makes sure he gets a life out of boxing. But this doesn’t diminish his love for the sport. Proof is his plan to give young Filipinos who wish to tread Nonito’s path an international boxing experience.
“It’s confidence,” says Nonito of what every boxer needs. “It what makes the fighter better. It’s the proper knowledge of nutrition, the proper knowledge of strength training. Sometimes, Pinoy boxers get overtrained because they train so hard. It’s the basic knowledge of doing the right things.”
Putting things in the right perspective means providing good facilities for aspiring boxers. Thus, Nonito wants to bring them to his place in the States.
“There’s a good training camp and a gym there,” says he. “I have a strength trainer. All the things that a boxer needs are there. They will meet different sparring partners of different nationalities. That (boosts) their confidence that I can beat this Mexican guy, this American guy and think, ‘Why can’t I beat the Russian guy or the German guy?’”
Nonito adds there are boxers who work hard but lose because of lack of confidence. This is what the Pinoy athlete needs.
“I just want to help out,” says he. “Whatever is the outcome, at least with proper knowledge, in the future, they will know that I can do this and this is what we should do. When they turn pro, the outcome of it is, there will be more world champions not just Manny Pacquiao, Gerry Peñalosa or Donaire. With proper training and confidence, we might have more world champions.”
Show business is also part of Nonito’s plans for the future.
“I want to do it full-time,” shares the GMA 7’s Celebrity Duets finalist. “Right now, I want to be good in what I’m doing. That’s acting, dancing and singing. If I think I can do that, then I’ll be here more often and to do more shows.” The Filipino Flash will guest in Hole and Danz Showdown.
Nonito is still at the prime of his career as professional boxer. That means seeing him fighting till the retirement age of 35 and gracing the small screen on the side.
“The prayers and support of the people and representing the country are my energizers,” says Nonito. “They are my motivations to look forward to a fight and my opponent.”
Nonito is up for a busy schedule. Here’s how he goes about training for a fight or whiling away his time.
5 a.m. — I wake up and begin my training. I run from four miles to six miles Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. I sprint on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I run for an hour.
After my early morning run, I cook breakfast. I cut down on weight. I have no rice. I eat more tuna and egg which are rich in protein.
By 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. — I’m done eating.
8 a.m. to 10 a.m. — I read a self-improvement book or play video games for an hour. Sometimes, I go on-line and read manga. I love animation. I play PSP or PC. I have a gamer.
10 a.m. to 1 p.m. — I go to sleep and I skip lunch.
1 p.m. to 4 p.m. — I go straight to the gym. I train for three hours. It’s a pretty much free time after that. There’s no dinner or I may have a little snack. I get used to it. I have been losing weight since I was 11 years old.
If it’s an ordinary day with no training sessions, I wake up whenever I wake up. I eat, eat and eat. I love junk food. I drink a beer or two, wine or champagne. I eat steaks, barbecue and ribs. I eat anything and everything for as long as it’s delicious.