This appears in my Monday April 20, 2009 column in the Business Mirror.Great Aspirations
Fight Day with Nonito Donaire Jr.
by rick olivares
Fight Day with Nonito Donaire Jr.
by rick olivares
The day had arrived and Nonito Donaire hardly slept. He was excited and rightfully so for his match against Raul Martinez had been postponed twice already. Getting inside the ring would bring a sense of relief. He could sense it was going to be a big day after all it was already etched in wood in the Manila Hotel.
Atop the cabinet that housed the television set of Room 1326 of the storied hotel was a notice: “A venue of big events and grand aspirations.”
And the Flash and the Furious, as the fight was billed, would bring a momentous occasion for Philippine boxing. But first, reigning IBF-IBO Flyweight Champion had to get up.
Rachel, Donaire’s wife couldn’t get much sleep either but she finally stood up at 5 A.M. The champ told her to get ready at her sister’s room while he hoped to catch another hour’s worth of shut eye.
The past four months, Donaire would get up at 5 A.M. to run then have some breakfast, get some rest before heading back for training. But since his third title defense was being held in the Philippines, the fight was scheduled for around 11 A.M. as it was being broadcast live all over the world. His body wasn’t used to the odd time but at least he’ll be fresh for the fight, he reasoned out.
By 6 A.M, he was up as his two 6’2” bodyguards, Brian Singer and Ben Kelso ushered in his breakfast. He was served two sunny side up eggs, onions, tomatoes, tocino, a cup of rice, two slices of brown wheat bread and a variety of jams. In a black Filipino Flash t-shirt and red trunks that bore the likeness of DC Comics’ The Flash comic book character, he plopped down and ate only enough to put food in his stomach. But he downed his orange juice.
Unlike his last fight where there were so many issues surrounding his impending break-up with his long time trainer, his father, now there some piece and quiet.
“It’s my freedom. It’s my fight now,” he said softly but with a firmness that opened the day as the first sunbeams filtered through the curtains. His mother, some uncles and aunts as well as his in-laws would be in attendance, but his pop and older brother Glenn were conspicuously absent. “Who knows – they just might show up,” was his wishful thinking.
By 630 A.M. Rachel and her father Gerry checked out Nonito. Mr. Marcial carried a Philippine flag that he brought all the way with him from the United States. The two left went down to the hotel’s coffee shop for breakfast and left Donaire alone once more to focus on the fight at hand.
Around 7:10 A.M. Team Donaire including his trainer, former IBF flyweight champ Dodie Boy Peñalosa, went up to the room to pack the Champ’s clothes for the fight. A crease developed on Donaire’s forehead as his Under Armour undergarment has been left behind in the Marcial residence in Alabang. He expressed some dismay in his native Bisaya before he caught himself. “I gotta get focused. This is very important.”
Nonito was grateful for the solace that once more enveloped the room. He spoke briefly about a relative who is a priest who said a moving prayer for Donaire’s well being the day before.
This fight’s routine was in so ways many a departure from the old. Not particularly superstitious, he has not lost sight of many things that he held dear, prayer included. He recounted how he was moved by the prayer of an uncle the day before. Faith is a huge part of this fighter’s make up.
By 7:30 A.M., Singer fetched him to go down to the lobby; call time at the Araneta Coliseum was at 9:30. Except that it was a false alarm. The vehicle that would take him to Cubao wasn’t ready. He shook his head somewhat angrily then went up to get whatever more rest he could. “But this is minor minor minor compared to what I went through in my last fight.” It wouldn’t be the last irritation of the day.
At 8:52, Singer knocked for the last time, “It’s show time.”
There was police escort for Team Donaire as they breezed through the light Metro traffic of a Sunday morning. There was a certain dark humor to the ride as Rachel cautioned the family driver to keep a healthy distance between the lead car and the motorcycle escort. And like clockwork, the four-vehicle convoy arrived at the Big Dome exactly at 9:30. Earlier, he spoke of his excitement about fighting not just in front of his countrymen but in the same venue where Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier waged one of the best battles inside the square ring. “Now hopefully, we can put on a good show for the fans and we won’t go home disappointed,” he said before gulping down a bottle of water.
Some well-wishers entered but were politely asked to exit the room by Singer and Kelso who are both black belters in taekwondo. “We might have to get a little aggressive,” advised Kelso. “We’ll only let anyone in if you say so.” Donaire nodded in agreement.
The grandsons of the late Gabriel “Flash” Elorde entered the locker room. The brothers, Bai and Migs, were to carry the Philippine flag at the tailend of Donaire’s entourage when they made they way to the ring. “Us Flashes gotta stick together,” greeted the Champ who shook hands with the young fighters.
Over by the door, Kelso and Singer pointed to the lapel of their suits that had the thunderbolt insignia that is the icon for DC’s Flash character.
The two cut a pair of imposing figures inside the locker room. Not only were they both tall and massively built but they looked like NFL players in a Men In Black flick. “Aww, we’re nice,” protested Singer.
At 9:47, as a couple of representatives from Martinez’ camp looked on (as were IBF-IBO officials), Donaire proceeded to get taped. His conversation with the Chicanos in Spanish broke the ice. They wished each other well.
As his fellow Olympic hopeful and former WBC light flyweight champion Brian Viloria took to the ring to take on IBF Junior Flyweight Champion Ulises Solis, Donaire stretched out. Minutes later, he once more raised his voice in anger as it was found out that his groin guard had been left behind in the hotel.
A groin guard was swiftly borrowed from one of the fighters who wasn’t due to take the ring until after the Main Event.
By the eighth round of the Viloria-Solis match, the room went quiet. Anyone could have cut the tension with a hot knife through butter.
The champ asked for space as he and Peñalosa went to the pads. Every now and then, Donaire asked for the time. “Time is very important to every fighter,” he explained to no one in particular.
Sonny Boy Jaro and Denver Cuello who both dispatched their foes earlier in the day entered the room to wish the champ luck. They touched fists as a form of solidarity.
Not long after a camera crew from Solar Sports entered the room to link up to live video feed in time for the National Anthem, there was a knock on the door. “Donaire, you’re next.”
Nonito Donaire then went out to a thunderous ovation that surprised and moved him.
At 2:42 of the 4th Round, Nonito Donaire Jr. successfully defended his belts for the third time as he knocked out Raul Martinez. His left knuckles were swollen after hurting himself in the first round after sending Martinez to the canvas for the second time. Inside the locker room, a reporter asked him, “What’s next for you? What do you aspire for?”
Donaire laughed and said that he looked forward first to a vacation. Only then would he think of how best to continue to etch his name in the annals of the great Philippine boxers of all time.
With Denver Cuello
With Dodie Boy Peñalosa
I became friends with the Donaires when I went up to Baguio last February to do a story on them for both Business Mirror and Maxim. It was touching to know that I quickly became their favorite writer and was granted scoops on occasion as well as the honor of following Nonito on fight day from the time he woke up all the way to the celebration that night at Kamayan (EDSA) where Nonito and Brian Singer sang along to the entertainment. They were awesome!
It sure was great to be inside the locker room and part of his entourage that sat ringside where I sat beside Senator Franklin Drilon. Never sat ringside in a boxing match before and this ranks as one of the coolest right next to watching at Giants Stadium and San Siro.
Thanks to Jun Jun and Rache.
I had so much space constraints with my regular column in Business Mirror and will just have to find a way of figuring out how to write down everything.
Additional reading:
http://bleachersbrew.blogspot.com/2009/02/boxer-and-lady.html
I wasn't able to catch up with Brian Viloria as I was in Nonito's camp the whole day. When Brian was last here I was his yayo. Hahahaha. I did write a bunch of stuff about Brian. Hopefully I can catch up with him when he returns from Ilocos.
Atop the cabinet that housed the television set of Room 1326 of the storied hotel was a notice: “A venue of big events and grand aspirations.”
And the Flash and the Furious, as the fight was billed, would bring a momentous occasion for Philippine boxing. But first, reigning IBF-IBO Flyweight Champion had to get up.
Rachel, Donaire’s wife couldn’t get much sleep either but she finally stood up at 5 A.M. The champ told her to get ready at her sister’s room while he hoped to catch another hour’s worth of shut eye.
The past four months, Donaire would get up at 5 A.M. to run then have some breakfast, get some rest before heading back for training. But since his third title defense was being held in the Philippines, the fight was scheduled for around 11 A.M. as it was being broadcast live all over the world. His body wasn’t used to the odd time but at least he’ll be fresh for the fight, he reasoned out.
By 6 A.M, he was up as his two 6’2” bodyguards, Brian Singer and Ben Kelso ushered in his breakfast. He was served two sunny side up eggs, onions, tomatoes, tocino, a cup of rice, two slices of brown wheat bread and a variety of jams. In a black Filipino Flash t-shirt and red trunks that bore the likeness of DC Comics’ The Flash comic book character, he plopped down and ate only enough to put food in his stomach. But he downed his orange juice.
Unlike his last fight where there were so many issues surrounding his impending break-up with his long time trainer, his father, now there some piece and quiet.
“It’s my freedom. It’s my fight now,” he said softly but with a firmness that opened the day as the first sunbeams filtered through the curtains. His mother, some uncles and aunts as well as his in-laws would be in attendance, but his pop and older brother Glenn were conspicuously absent. “Who knows – they just might show up,” was his wishful thinking.
By 630 A.M. Rachel and her father Gerry checked out Nonito. Mr. Marcial carried a Philippine flag that he brought all the way with him from the United States. The two left went down to the hotel’s coffee shop for breakfast and left Donaire alone once more to focus on the fight at hand.
Around 7:10 A.M. Team Donaire including his trainer, former IBF flyweight champ Dodie Boy Peñalosa, went up to the room to pack the Champ’s clothes for the fight. A crease developed on Donaire’s forehead as his Under Armour undergarment has been left behind in the Marcial residence in Alabang. He expressed some dismay in his native Bisaya before he caught himself. “I gotta get focused. This is very important.”
Nonito was grateful for the solace that once more enveloped the room. He spoke briefly about a relative who is a priest who said a moving prayer for Donaire’s well being the day before.
This fight’s routine was in so ways many a departure from the old. Not particularly superstitious, he has not lost sight of many things that he held dear, prayer included. He recounted how he was moved by the prayer of an uncle the day before. Faith is a huge part of this fighter’s make up.
By 7:30 A.M., Singer fetched him to go down to the lobby; call time at the Araneta Coliseum was at 9:30. Except that it was a false alarm. The vehicle that would take him to Cubao wasn’t ready. He shook his head somewhat angrily then went up to get whatever more rest he could. “But this is minor minor minor compared to what I went through in my last fight.” It wouldn’t be the last irritation of the day.
At 8:52, Singer knocked for the last time, “It’s show time.”
There was police escort for Team Donaire as they breezed through the light Metro traffic of a Sunday morning. There was a certain dark humor to the ride as Rachel cautioned the family driver to keep a healthy distance between the lead car and the motorcycle escort. And like clockwork, the four-vehicle convoy arrived at the Big Dome exactly at 9:30. Earlier, he spoke of his excitement about fighting not just in front of his countrymen but in the same venue where Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier waged one of the best battles inside the square ring. “Now hopefully, we can put on a good show for the fans and we won’t go home disappointed,” he said before gulping down a bottle of water.
Some well-wishers entered but were politely asked to exit the room by Singer and Kelso who are both black belters in taekwondo. “We might have to get a little aggressive,” advised Kelso. “We’ll only let anyone in if you say so.” Donaire nodded in agreement.
The grandsons of the late Gabriel “Flash” Elorde entered the locker room. The brothers, Bai and Migs, were to carry the Philippine flag at the tailend of Donaire’s entourage when they made they way to the ring. “Us Flashes gotta stick together,” greeted the Champ who shook hands with the young fighters.
Over by the door, Kelso and Singer pointed to the lapel of their suits that had the thunderbolt insignia that is the icon for DC’s Flash character.
The two cut a pair of imposing figures inside the locker room. Not only were they both tall and massively built but they looked like NFL players in a Men In Black flick. “Aww, we’re nice,” protested Singer.
At 9:47, as a couple of representatives from Martinez’ camp looked on (as were IBF-IBO officials), Donaire proceeded to get taped. His conversation with the Chicanos in Spanish broke the ice. They wished each other well.
As his fellow Olympic hopeful and former WBC light flyweight champion Brian Viloria took to the ring to take on IBF Junior Flyweight Champion Ulises Solis, Donaire stretched out. Minutes later, he once more raised his voice in anger as it was found out that his groin guard had been left behind in the hotel.
A groin guard was swiftly borrowed from one of the fighters who wasn’t due to take the ring until after the Main Event.
By the eighth round of the Viloria-Solis match, the room went quiet. Anyone could have cut the tension with a hot knife through butter.
The champ asked for space as he and Peñalosa went to the pads. Every now and then, Donaire asked for the time. “Time is very important to every fighter,” he explained to no one in particular.
Sonny Boy Jaro and Denver Cuello who both dispatched their foes earlier in the day entered the room to wish the champ luck. They touched fists as a form of solidarity.
Not long after a camera crew from Solar Sports entered the room to link up to live video feed in time for the National Anthem, there was a knock on the door. “Donaire, you’re next.”
Nonito Donaire then went out to a thunderous ovation that surprised and moved him.
At 2:42 of the 4th Round, Nonito Donaire Jr. successfully defended his belts for the third time as he knocked out Raul Martinez. His left knuckles were swollen after hurting himself in the first round after sending Martinez to the canvas for the second time. Inside the locker room, a reporter asked him, “What’s next for you? What do you aspire for?”
Donaire laughed and said that he looked forward first to a vacation. Only then would he think of how best to continue to etch his name in the annals of the great Philippine boxers of all time.
With Denver Cuello
With Dodie Boy PeñalosaI became friends with the Donaires when I went up to Baguio last February to do a story on them for both Business Mirror and Maxim. It was touching to know that I quickly became their favorite writer and was granted scoops on occasion as well as the honor of following Nonito on fight day from the time he woke up all the way to the celebration that night at Kamayan (EDSA) where Nonito and Brian Singer sang along to the entertainment. They were awesome!
It sure was great to be inside the locker room and part of his entourage that sat ringside where I sat beside Senator Franklin Drilon. Never sat ringside in a boxing match before and this ranks as one of the coolest right next to watching at Giants Stadium and San Siro.
Thanks to Jun Jun and Rache.
I had so much space constraints with my regular column in Business Mirror and will just have to find a way of figuring out how to write down everything.
Additional reading:
http://bleachersbrew.blogspot.com/2009/02/boxer-and-lady.html
I wasn't able to catch up with Brian Viloria as I was in Nonito's camp the whole day. When Brian was last here I was his yayo. Hahahaha. I did write a bunch of stuff about Brian. Hopefully I can catch up with him when he returns from Ilocos.
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