The Battle for Everything

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The Battle for Everything
by rick olivares

In his last three fights – all of which were wins – Nonito Donaire fought an average of six rounds.

By contrast, the challenger for his IBO/IBF belts, Mexican-American Raul Martinez fought an astounding four times in 2008 while winning all them to hike his career total to 24-0. He fought 32 rounds and while three of them were by Unanimous Decision, he stopped Victor Proa cold in his last match in the first round.

Martinez and Donaire both clashed during the US Olympic trials of 2000 where the champ prevailed. Donaire never made the team but has since become a champion after inflicting the lone blot on Australian pugilist Vic Darchinyan’s stellar record.

Don’t think that fact that he has only fought once in the past year isn’t lost on Donaire. That’s why he is in the City of Pines where he hopes that the high altitude not to mention the meticulous training under the watchful eyes of the Peñalosa brothers will build his stamina and keep him sharp.

For Junjun – as Donaire is nicknamed – it will be his first title defense without his father Nonito Sr. in his corner. The father was by his side all through his amateur days until the son’s second title defense against South African Moruti Mthalane who he beat via TKO after the challenger was disallowed to continue fighting after suffering a deep cut in the left side of his face.

A rift developed after the father and Donaire’s new bride Rachel (nee Marcial) clashed over managing Junjun’s affairs and a “divorce” was in the making.

Perhaps the most publicized boxing split since Floyd Mayweather Sr. and Jr., the Donaire’s parted ways. Although they have not spoken since, the son is dedicating his third title defense to his father. And Nonito Sr., now based in Cebu misses his son.

Junjun is madly in love with his wife who is a former US Air Force officer and US National Junior Taekwondo Champion. He is hopeful for reconciliation but believes that he is all grown up and ready to spread his wings. “I’m not a little boy anymore,” he says. “I’m still very much a dedicated fighter who aspires to go far but I am also a man with needs and emotions.”

Perhaps it’s a cry out of explain to a father who wants him focused on nothing more than his career and anything else is an unhealthy distraction. He’s quiet after that. Maybe to stress his point.

Then he switches to his upcoming fight.

Whether it was being mindful of Mthalane’s power or the ring rust because of inactivity, Donaire will have a moment of déjà vu. Raul Martinez like Mathlane possesses serious knockout power and he’d love nothing more than to move to the top of the food chain.

Raul Martinez like Mathlane possesses serious knockout power and he’d love nothing more than to knock Donaire out and move to the top of the food chain.

Under the tutelage of his father, they hardly watched tapes of their opponents. But when you’re the champ, everyone comes after you and the quality of the opponents gets better all the time. So the tapes of Martinez arrive for review.

Donaire understands that if he losses, it won’t just be his two belts, but also there will be the wags who will say that the father was right. So he intends to end Fight day with win #21.

He runs three times a week in Teacher’s Camp before repairing to the Sub Gym at Cooyeesan Hotel for an afternoon of hardcore training with the Peñalosas. On rest days, he works his Playstation 3 and wii for a couple of hours. “It relaxes me but it keeps my reflexes and coordination sharp,” he smiles at the thought of this unorthodox training method. “Speed of thought. It helps your speed of thought and that is crucial inside the ring.”

Once in a while he eschews what his cook preps for him for an evening in town. Whether with a group of friends or alone with his wife, Donaire tries to remain unobtrusive. Behind the baseball cap and the jacket, he isn’t instantly recognizable, but once he duffs them off when inside a restaurant or even inside the grocery, there’s a gasp from the star-struck, “The Champ is here!”

He is affable and polite. He may have gotten his dinner “on the house,” but he makes it a point to leave a handsome tip, a smile, and a warm handshake. He is grateful for the opportunity to fight in front of his countrymen. Even if he had migrated to the United States, he was always proud of his heritage.

And he is grateful for the opportunity to fight inside the Big Dome. “Every Filipino fighter worth his salt has fought there.” he says with his eyes gleaming. “It’s upholding a tradition; a legacy. I’m a proud heir.”