Donaire boys on the rise

If the trend is to find fame and fortune overseas, the Donaire brothers are bucking it because they’ve decided to pursue their fistic careers on local soil.

Glenn Donaire, 22, was born in General Santos City and Nonito Donaire Jr., 19, in Taliban, Bohol. Their father Nonito Sr. served in the Philippine Army for eight years and fought as an amateur fighter before trying his luck alone in the US in 1990. After a year, his wife Imelda and youngest child Lucky Ermie, now 17, joined him in Van Nuys, California.

In 1993, the last wave of the Donaire family arrived in Van Nuys–Glenn, Nonito Jr. and sister Rosiel, now 21.

Glenn and Nonito Jr. took to boxing like fish to water. They joined amateur competitions and captured a wide assortment of regional and district championships. Through it all, the brothers kept their promise to finish high school at San Lazaro in San Leandro, California. It was a promise to their father who studied only up to second year high.

Two years ago, both Donaires reached the final stage of the lightflyweight Olympic trials and were eliminated by the same fighter, Hawaiian Brian Viloria who is of Filipino descent. Viloria beat Glenn, 10-5, and Nonito Jr., 8-6, to earn a slot on the US squad at the Sydney Olympics. Viloria spoiled what would’ve been a historic brother versus brother confrontation in the finals.

To this day, Glenn and Nonito Jr. swear they weren’t beaten by Viloria but by the judges who were swayed by the Hawaiian’s impressive credentials. "We’ll fight Viloria anytime, anywhere," echoed the Donaires.

Exasperated by their failure to qualify for the Olympics, the brothers decided to turn pro. Nonito Jr., known as the "Flash," refused a boxing scholarship at Northern Michigan University to enter the paid ranks. The brothers signed up with female promoter Jackie Kallen whose best-known fighter was former world champion James Toney. Kallen paid the boys a monthly salary of $1,500.

Glenn, nicknamed the ‘Filipino Bomber’ in the US, raced to a 6-0 record, knocking out all his opponents, until he lost a disputed six-round decision to Gabriel Elizondo in San Antonio, Texas, in June last year. Glenn was floored once but decked Elizondo twice in the slugfest. The three judges scored it for the Texas hometowner, 59-55, 58-56, and 58-55. Nonito Sr. raised a howl when the verdict was announced. He had reason to protest. Elizondo was knocked down in the first and third rounds so Glenn automatically picked up a pair of 10-8s, meaning the Texan lost at least four points. But in two judges’ scorecards, he lost only two points and in the third, only one.

Meanwhile, Nonito Jr. racked up a 3-1 record, with two knockouts. His only setback was a decision to Rosendo Sanchez in his second pro outing.

After Glenn’s loss to Elizondo, Nonito Sr. took his boys back to the Philippines. At least, they would get a fair shake here. Kallen released them from their contracts after nine months.

In November last year, the Donaires arrived home with nine boxes of their belongings, including computers and boxing gear.

Since their return, the Donaires have been unbeaten. Glenn has won four in a row to raise his record to 9-1, with seven KOs. Nonito Jr. has won three straight, including a second round stoppage of Kaichon Sor Vorapin of Thailand to bag the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia Pacific flyweight crown in Guam last August. His record is up to 6-1, with four KOs.

Last weekend, the Donaires fought on the same card at the Cantada Sports Center in Bicutan. Glenn disposed of veteran Ben Albanez with a single shot to the solar plexus in one round while Nonito Jr. dropped Mark Sales once en route to a unanimous eight-round decision.

The Donaires are managed by their father and train at the Cantada gym. Whenever they’re booked to fight, fans come in droves to watch them in action. They’re exciting, charismatic, and good-looking. More and more female fans are checking them out.

"Life is good in the Philippines," said Glenn who’s as proficient in Pilipino as in English. "We’re not rushing things. We’re moving up, step by step. There’s no pressure on us."

Nonito Sr. recalled that when they were young, the brothers used to spar and Nonito Jr. often walked away, crying with a bloody nose. Slowly, Nonito Jr. toughened up, thanks to his older brother.

Veteran sportscribe Taby Tabaniag predicted a bright future for the Donaires. He said the fundamentals they learned in the US provide a solid foundation. The boys know how to move around the ring, are smart, pack power in both fists, and work hard.

What’s impressive about the brothers is their poise in the ring. They never panic. They know what they’re doing. They can box or slug. They can fight straight up or side to side. Their handspeed is blinding and their footwork is dizzying. They’ve got the tools to go far in the fight game.

Nonito Sr. proudly said his sons are disciplined and determined. Don Familton, who trained the brothers in Van Nuys, noted: "They’re crowd pleasers. They’re disciplined kids with a terrific work ethic and tremendous dedication to succeed. They eat, sleep, and drink boxing. They’re surprisingly mature for their age. If I were a promoter, I’d take a chance with these kids."

The Donaires are definitely going places.