Donaire still unsure of next foe

While enjoying the joys of a new father, Nonito Donaire Jr. isn’t rushing to get back to the gym. It’s still not certain whom he’ll fight next and no date has been set for his first outing since losing to Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux on points last April. The word is the former IBF/IBO flyweight, WBC/WBO bantamweight and WBO superbantamweight champion will make his much-awaited return to the ring in late October or early November, possibly against Australian Vic Darchinyan in a rematch.

If you ask Donaire, he’d rather take on Rigondeaux before anyone else. He decked the Cuban once but couldn’t finish off the slick two-time Olympic gold medalist in bowing for only the second time in his pro career, ending a streak of 30 straight wins since 2001. At the moment, Donaire’s manager Cameron Dunkin and Top Rank chairman Bob Arum haven’t decided whom his next opponent will be. Orlando Cruz was mentioned as a possibility but the Puerto Rican southpaw recently signed to fight Orlando Salido for the vacant WBO featherweight crown in Las Vegas on Oct. 12. So it could come down to either Rigondeaux or Darchinyan.

Donaire seems ready to move up to the featherweight division but he’s ready to postpone the invasion for a chance to redeem himself against Rigondeaux. If Darchinyan is picked, Donaire expects a war because the Australian of Armenian descent has never lived down his fifth round knockout loss to the Filipino Flash in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in 2007. Darchinyan, 37, has been aching for a chance to avenge the setback and will no doubt go all out to beat Donaire if ever they meet again. Darchinyan is coming off back-to-back wins over Luis del Valle and Javier Gallo so he’s on a mild roll. He remains a dangerous foe with a record of 39-5-1, including 28 KOs. Donaire’s record is 31-2, with 20 KOs.

Donaire logged four fights last year and won them all. If he faces Darchinyan or Rigondeaux or somebody else, it will only be his second outing of the year, a significant drop in his activity. But that’s understandable. Donaire became a first-time father last July 16 and he’s spending time with wife Rachel and newly-born son Jarel Michael in their Las Vegas home.

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The baby was born at 3:13 a.m., weighing six pounds and 12 ounces and measuring 18 inches. Dr. Arthur Herpolsheimer performed an emergency C-section delivery at the St. Rose Hospital in Henderson, Las Vegas.

“Rachel went to the hospital due to contractions but was released because it was still early labor,” related Donaire’s father-in-law Gerry Marcial. “Within two hours, Rachel returned due to stronger contractions. After confirming progress in dilation, Rachel was admitted into the hospital at approximately 6 p.m. Her water broke around 10 p.m. but she didn’t dilate further. The baby’s heart rate decreased with every contraction and that was when Dr. Herpolsheimer decided on an emergency C-section procedure.”

Only Donaire was in the hospital when Jarel was born. Rachel’s parents Gerry and Becky were in San Francisco for a funeral. Becky’s mother Matea Mangabat, 94, died of a stroke three days earlier. “Becky was initially going back to Las Vegas to be with Rachel,” said Gerry. “But Rachel asked her to stay in San Francisco to say her goodbyes to her mother.” Rachel’s parents flew back to Las Vegas the day after Jarel’s birth.

“Jun and Rachel had decided prior to the birth that they wanted to go through with this as a couple and they did,” said Gerry. “It was beautiful how they welcomed Jarel into our world.” Donaire couldn’t be happier with his son’s arrival. “The first cry I heard from Jarel, I was filled with emotion and the first time I held him, I nearly cried,” he said.

Less than two weeks before her delivery, Rachel was in the news for rescuing a little boy who accidentally fell into a swimming pool during a barbecue Independence Day celebration at the Donaires’ Las Vegas home. Although heavy with child, Rachel didn’t hesitate to plunge into the pool to save the boy from drowning. “It was a split second reaction,” said Gerry. “Jun was attending to guests in another part of the house when the boy fell in and Rachel was the closest to the pool. Jun regretted not being around to dive in.”

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Rachel risked her pregnancy when she dove in to save a friend’s son who disappeared in the pool. At that point, she was scheduled to deliver in 17 days. As it turned out, she gave birth after 12 days. Donaire brought Rachel to the hospital for fetal monitoring after the rescue and doctors found she had strained a ligament. “She moved so quickly, she scared me,” said Donaire in his twitter account. “Rachel didn’t hesitate to jump in to save the child but injured herself in the process.” The heroic act was widely publicized and applauded in media.

Donaire will need at least two months to prepare for his next fight and may be returning to the gym sooner than later. He was once the world’s No. 3 pound-for-pound fighter but has since been struck out of the top 10. Donaire’s ranking has dropped to No. 5 to No. 8 to No. 10 and after losing to Rigondeaux, he’s no longer in the honor roll.

In the latest listing, The Ring Magazine’s top 10 pound-for-pound fighters were in order, Floyd Mayweather Jr., Andre Ward, Juan Manuel Marquez, Wladimir Klitschko, Abner Mares, Sergio Martinez, Manny Pacquiao, Adrien Broner, Timothy Bradley and Saul Alvarez. No doubt, Donaire will want to break back into the top 10 standings and the road to redemption begins with his next fight before the year ends.