Matapos si world four-division champion Manny Pacquiao, si world flyweight titlist Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire, Jr. na ang pinakapopular na Filipino boxer sa kasalukuyan.
Ang 29-anyos na si Pacquiao at ang 25-anyos na si Donaire, kapwa tubong General Santos City, ang siyang muling naglagay sa Pilipinas sa mapa ng boxing world, ayon kay Bob Arum ng Top Rank Promotions.
“All boats rise when you have something like that happen. And Donaire is probably the second most popular Filipino fighter and he also has the advantage of being raised in the United States. And he has a good following here, so he’s helped tremendously,” ani Arum.
Nakatakdang idepensa ni Donaire sa ikalawang sunod na pagkakataon ang kanyang International Boxing Federation (IBF) at International Boxing Organization (IBO) flyweight belts kontra kay South African Moruti Mthalane sa Linggo (Manila time) sa Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino sa Las Vegas, Nevada.
Isang eight-round TKO ang iniskor ni Donaire laban kay Mexican challenger Luis Maldonado noong Disyembre 1 sa Mashantucket, Connecticut para sa kanyang unang title defense.
Kung mayroon mang nagbukas ng oportunidad para sa mga Pinoy fighters, ito ay si Pacquiao, ayon kay Donaire, nakabase ngayon sa San Leandro, California kasama ang kanyang father/trainer na si Nonito, Sr.
“I’m putting on my own path, but one thing is that I’m thankful for is the fact that Manny’s in front of me and he’s giving me all these examples,” wika ni Donaire kay Pacquiao. “And he’s giving me this determination to fight hard, stay hard, and that sums it up. That’s just how it is for me.”
Kung mananalo kay Mthalane, plano ni Donaire na magdepensa pa ng kanyang IBF at IBO flyweight crowns bago umakyat sa super flyweight division kung saan kumakampanya ang pinabagsak niya sa fifth round na si Armenian Vic Darchinyan. (Russell Cadayona)