Muntik nang isuko ni Donaire ang laban

MANILA, Philippines – Inilihim ni Nonito Donaire Jr. ang kanyang left foot injury at hinintay matapos ang laban kay Mexican Cesar Juarez para sa bakanteng WBO superbantamweight title bago ito sabihin sa kanyang father/trainer na si Nonito Sr.

Sinabi ni Donaire na pumasok sa isip niyang isuko ang laban matapos ang naturang freak injury sa sixth round sa Coliseo Roberto Clemente sa San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Natapakan ng 33- anyos na si Donaire ang paa ni referee Ramon Peña at nagkaroon ng sprained left foot na nagresulta sa kanyang pagluhod sa canvas.

Nang tumayo si Donaire ay nakaramdam siya ng kakaiba sa kanyang kaliwang paa.

“I tried to shake it off and came back but it only got worse,” wika ni Donaire. “It became very painful, like the middle of my left foot was split. I had to lift my leg up to put some power in my punches. I couldn’t jab without feeling the pain in my foot. Worse, I couldn’t push Juarez away because I couldn’t work my jab.”

Ayon kay Donaire, nagdesisyon siyang huwag ibunyag ang kanyang nararamdaman sa ama niya.

“I didn’t want my corner to be preoccupied with my foot,” ani Donaire.

“I told my dad I was fine, that I felt okay. I didn’t want to get away from our gameplan. If I showed I was in pain, it would’ve shifted my corner’s attention to my foot from what I had to do to win.”

Ngunit hindi lamang ito ang gumambala kay Donaire.

Nakorbo ang kanyang kaliwang hinlalaki sa sparring at lumubha ito sa kanilang laban ni Juarez.

“I couldn’t make a fist because it hurt,” ani Donaire. “So I had hand and foot issues. Then, there was Juarez who could be the toughest opponent I’ve ever faced. I don’t think I’ve ever fought anyone as durable. He went down twice in the fourth round but didn’t give up. I hit him with a lot of solid shots that would’ve probably knocked out anyone else.”

Bumilib naman si Donaire sa 24-anyos na si Juarez dahil sa katapangan nito.

“I built a big lead in the first six rounds,” sabi ni Donaire. “But when I hurt my foot, I couldn’t move away from the ropes like I did before. Juarez is a volume puncher. He hit me with some hard body shots but I could take what he dished out.”

Inamin ni Donaire na inisp na niyang tumigil sa kalagitnaan ng naturang laban dahil sa sobrang kapaguran.

“I was getting tired, my body was getting weak and Juarez kept coming in. Sure, I thought of quitting. But I didn’t want to make an excuse out of stepping on the referee’s foot. I told myself I’d give it my all. I had to. I worked hard to win. It’s in my nature, I’m a warrior.

I wanted to bring the world title back to the Philippines. I knew that with my big lead in the first six rounds, I would still win the decision even if he won the last six. But I wanted to make sure by winning the last round which I did. If I didn’t get hurt, he wouldn’t have gone the distance. I would’ve knocked him out,” ani Donaire.