Erap stands as godfather to Donaire

Former President Joseph Estrada will be the godfather at the wedding of the newest Philippine boxing sensation Nonito Donaire Jr., IBF and WBO flyweight champion, scheduled to take place before the year ends.

Nonito will wed Rachel Marcial, a Filipino-American athlete who was one of the qualifiers in the AAU Championships, US Collegiate Nationals and World University Games. Rachel, who is also 2002 World Taekwondo Military champion, also wants to be a member of the Philippine Taekwondo team to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Both US residents, Nonito and Rachel were personally escorted by San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito to visit former Pres. Estrada at his San Juan home last Sunday. Donaire presented his IBF championship belt to the former chief executive, after dealing a knockout to the then-undefeated champion Vic Darchinyan last July.

The couple is currently in training, with Rachel acting as Nonito’s special trainer so that she can personally monitor her fiance’s weight, and help him with quicker moves for his April 14 fight against Hussein Hussein in Dubai.

Former Pres. Estrada told the couple he would do his best to be present at Nonito’s Dubai fight.             – With Rodel Clapano