Last Saturday night, February 19, Filipinos who gathered to support the “Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire, at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, left the building with proud smiles on their faces as they recall how their kababayan, Donaire, sent the Mexican fighter, Fernando Montiel, crumpling on the canvas via a powerful knockout.
Raised in General Santos City, South Cotobato, and migrated to the United States, Filipino-American Donaire proved once more that he too, can be enlisted among the roster of the renowned pound-for-pound fighters of the world and wave the Filipino flag mighty and high for all the world to see adding the WBC and WBO bantamweight titles under his name.
Modest and soft-spoken, Donaire showed the contrary during the 2-round fight as he started moving in aggressively on the Mexican boxer during the first round. Montiel, on the other hand, welcomed the punches of Donaire unfazed and still composed.
Come second round, as Donaire started taking in some hard punches from Montiel but later on revealed that it was all part of his tactic before he went in for the kill. After a left hook to the face and a left uppercut from Montiel, Donaire went in and baited for the Mexican fighter to throw the right which the latter did. Montiel, with his right hand, fell short and was helpless with Donaire’s counter left hook. The blow struck Montiel hard on the temple that sent him spiraling down giving Donaire the opening to follow it up with a right uppercut that literally laid Montiel shuddered on the canvas for a few seconds. Montiel miraculously managed to get up after the hard blow-making referee Russel Mora continue the fight. The Filipino Flash did not waste a moment and immediately resumed throwing in a couple of punches before Mora finally waved it off.
Donaire, now with a record of 26-1, with 18 KOs, rejoiced with his entourage amid the loud cries of over 4,805 euphoric fans. He stood from the corner of the ring, held a rosary up high, thanked and pointed his gloved fist to the Filipinos who are all cheering for him incessantly, he then kissed his wife, and paid respect to his opponent like a respectable Pinoy would.
The tremendous fight which transpired in no longer six minutes is considered to be one of the best fights to start the year. The fight ended so quickly that Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and wife Jinky apparently did not have the chance to witness the momentous event as they have just arrived as Donaire’s foe was near to his defeat.
Raised in the same city as Manny Pacquiao, more important showing the same skills and potential as the next pound-for-pound boxing champ, people and critics can’t help but compare the Filipino Flash to Pacman.
When asked about his concerns as being regarded as a star compared to Manny, this is what the Filipino Flash had to say: “To my guys, I’m number one, but to the people out there, if they tell me I’m number two, it’s such an honor and blessing for me.”
It is true when they say that greatness comes to those who are humble; for Donaire who is just starting to find his own niche, he considered being labeled as one of the best in the field and making millions of Filipinos proud is an accomplishment in itself.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(Las Vegas Feb 23-Mar 2, 2011 Sec A pg. 6)
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