Nonito Donaire helps promote Sat night fight

By John F. McKenna (McJack): WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire (26-1, 18 KO’s) is on the east coast to help promote his Saturday night encounter with Argentina’s Omar “EL Huracan” Narvaez (35-0-2, 23 KO’s). The fight will take place at Madison Square Garden and will be Donaire’s debut fight in New York City.

Yesterday Nonito took time out from his hectic schedule to travel to Jersey City where he spoke to a group of mostly Filipino children in a public library. Donaire was the guest speaker at the Filipino School of New York and New Jersey.

Nonito shared with the children the harsh reality of life as a child in the southern Philippines. Donaire migrated to Los Angeles as a youth with his family. He related how his father wanted to get him into boxing to get him off the streets of LA.

Donaire said that at first he rebelled against his fathers wishes to get him into boxing as a way of staying out of trouble, describing himself as too weak to engage in the sport. Now eighteen years later he is one of the shining stars in boxing and is regarded as one of the best pound for pound fighters in the game and a three division champion.

Nonito is an unusual breed of fighter, using his eloquence as a speaker and his self confidence in a positive way. He wants to give back to the community from where he came. Donaire’s sincerity also appears to be genuine.

On July 7, 2007 as a 7-1 underdog Nonito won the IBF/IBO flyweight titles when he KO’d then undefeated champion Vic Darchinyan. The victory was Ring Magazine’s Fight of the Year and Upset of the Year.

On August 15, 2009 Donaire won the WBA Super Flyweight interim world title when he won a unanimous twelve round decision over Rafael Concepcion at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

After moving up to bantamweight Donaire took on Mexico’s Fernando Montiel on February 19, 2011 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas for the WBC/WBO bantamweight championship. Nonito knocked out Montiel in the 2nd round with a devastating left hook to take Fernando’s titles.

Saturday nights fight will be Donaire’s last as a bantamweight. His next match will be at junior featherweight where there are several opponents waiting for him. Eventually it is likely that Nonito will move up to featherweight.

Nonito will have the advantage of being eight years younger at 28 than his 36 year old opponent. At 5’7” he will also have a four inch height advantage over Narvaez who is 5’3”.

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