Donaire's vision

SINGAPORE – A few minutes after getting off the comfortable Philippine Air Lines flight PR 505 at 10:30 p.m., Filipinos who are presumably sports buffs and STAR readers, ask us about newly-crowned WBA interim super flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr.

They talk positively of the 26-year old Fil-American athlete based on what Donaire himself says and what others have said about him. These sports enthusiasts cite the kind gesture Donaire made of dedicating his fight against the overweight and arrogant Rafael Concepcion in memory of the icon of Philippine democracy, the late President Cory. They talk of the simple but moving exchange of gifts between Nonito and Rachel Donaire, on one hand, and the children of Ninoy and President Cory Aquino, on the other.

A few days earlier, in Manila, the Donaires, a son of mine Joseph and his wife, Trisha and I, are guests over dinner of sportsman and businessman, Jorge (Nene) Araneta at the latter’s Sachi Japanese restaurant at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Donaires had just come from GMA 7 where the champ was guest in a celebrity show where he had a chance to showcase his singing talents. He was obviously very delighted about what he was doing, it being a way of relaxing from the rigors of prizefighting and discovering more things about himself and his person.

During the two and a half hours that we feasted over Suchi’s delicious selections, Donaire talked about a number of things, among them, his familiarity with the “L” sign for “Laban” which he said he used to flash when he was a kid in Gen. Santos. “That was during the early and mid-80’s when I first encountered the Laban sign since everyone was doing it. That’s why I immediately understood the significance of the long confinement and death of President Aquino. I knew, early on, what she stood for and I lived out and continue to live out the same thing: fight despite the odds to bring the country to another level,” said Donaire. 

Araneta, who is known to top-rated fighters, trainers and promoters, talked about the lunch he had with trainer-coach Freddie Roach and Top Rank’s Bob Arum (whom he met in the 1970’s when the Araneta Coliseum hosted the historic world heavyweight title fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier aptly dubbed “Thrilla in Manila”. The coliseum was unilaterally renamed Philippine Coliseum by Ferdinand Marcos, who was not exactly fond of the Gerry Roxas (husband of Judy Araneta) – Amado Araneta families, for the title fight.

Asked about training under Roach, Donaire said “it would be a good idea to have Freddie on my side, except that he’s too busy with many other fighters. He’s done a lot for Manny (Pacquiao), who in turn, has opened up many opportunities for other Filipino fighters like me. I appreciate Freddie’s talent and he can train me well. We can discuss my fighting philosophies, combine it with his training skills and I will make the decisions in the ring.”

On Concepcion and how he wants to end his fights with a flourish, “I wanted to knock out Concepcion but I hurt my hand in the second round when I hit him with an uppercut. I always want to knock out my opponent because it’s the highest form of victory in boxing.”

To be sure, Donaire has both a short-and long-term vision. His plans include fighting the 30-year old Jorge Arce (52-5-1, 40 by KO), former WBO light flyweight and WBC interim flyweight champion on December 12, and eventually Fernando Montiel, 30. Arce lost on February 7, 2009, to Vic Darchinyan, who, in turn, lost via a fifth round KO to Donaire in 2007. Darchinyan seems to be fading and has been asking for a rematch with the Filipino for the big bucks before calling it quits.

While not looking past Arce, Donaire plans to move up to bantamweight (118 pounds) and battle Montiel (39-2-1, 29 by KO). Donaire thinks he can go all the way up to 135 (lightweight) without looking chubby and without sacrificing his speed: “I have the potential to be a champion in many divisions and I’m aiming for it.”

Right now, Donaire just has to attend to his hands that can’t seem to withstand the impact of his blows and to monitor his asthma that, luckily, has not impaired his performance.

* * *

Back in Singapore. Things never change – wherever you are: The August 31 issue of The Straits Times says six sports, golf, cue sports, muay thai, sepak takraw, silat and taekwondo, have lodged appeals for athletes of these six sports to augment the present 202-member Singapore contingent to the Laos SEA Games in December 2009.