In a SportsNews.ph article, Donaire shared the struggles he experienced when he was starting out. “In the early years of my career, I could not get a fight,” he said.
“I was one of those guys who would take a fight on two days notice,” revealed the former flyweight champion. “I would take it because I didn't have the option to do it my way.”
Donaire made known his gratitude to Pacquiao for paving the way for other fighters like him to be featured in boxing events.
He will be featured in “Pinoy Power II” on August 15 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
“We are just so honored for what he has done for our country,” he said of “the Pacman.”
Donaire, the former IBF flyweight champion, will take a shot at the WBA interim junior bantamweight title against Panama’s Rafael Concepcion.
Filipino Bernabe Concepcion will face WBO featherweight champion Steven Luevano in the co-feature while another Filipino, Mark Melligen, will fight Michel Rosales in the under card.
Tied to Pacquiao
Carl Moretti of Top Rank Promotions said that Donaire is on track in making a big name for himself in the boxing world.
“We believe that Donaire is going to be a superstar, and I think as Manny gets more and more prominent and becomes more of a crossover star, that is going to help Nonito, who I think is a great, great fighter,” said the Top Rank vice president.
Top Rank Chairman Bob Arum echoed such pronouncement. He said the same is happening to an upcoming Puerto Rican fighter.
“Miguel Cotto is the top fighter in Puerto Rico,” Arum said of Pacquiao’s next opponent.
“But coming up and becoming a major fighter is Juan Manuel Lopez from Puerto Rico. That is the equivalent to what is happening on the Filipino side,” he said.
“You have Manny Pacquiao, who is like the super, super Filipino. And the second-most popular Filipino fighter coming up is Nonito Donaire,” noted Arum.
Moretti, meantime, pointed out that budding superstars are regarded as playing second fiddle to the reigning boxing kings like Pacquiao.
“The announcers, they naturally say, `Hey, he could be the next Felix Trinidad, he could be the next (Julio Cesar) Chavez, he could be the next Pacquiao,’” he said.
Moretti added, “But what is wrong with being the first Nonito Donaire?”
Donaire, for his part, remarked: “I believe from this point on, everybody will be tied to Pacquiao.”
He said he seeks to make a name for himself for several reasons. “It's more (displaying) my talent and seeing how far I can go with that and that I'm worthy of being a Filipino.”
“It is more just representing myself and being proud of who I am, being a Filipino fighter and always doing my best and always remembering to represent myself as a gentleman,” he added.
Donaire, 26, was born in Talibon, Bohol. He was raised in General Santos City which is the hometown of Pacquiao before eventually moving to the US at the age of 10.
“The Filipino Flash” has another “Pacquiao connection” – Donaire’s mother was Pacquiao’s teacher in fourth grade, according to SportsNews.ph.
as of 08/11/2009 7:04 PM
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