Boxing can sometimes provide its supporters with disappointment and frustration. The recent saga between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua with Bob Arum, Eddie Hearn and Deontay Wilder in supporting roles is recent evidence.
In a sport where promoters need to seek permission from rival governing bodies, quarrelling television suits, and most importantly, the fighters, to put on a spectacle, it’s no surprise that boxing often shoots itself in the foot. Despite the nuisances that accompany the sport, rays of sunshine occasionally reveal themselves and none shine brighter than Nonito Donaire.
With a spot in boxing’s coveted Hall of Fame long secure, one may ask why Donaire continues to occupy an environment that is ultimately detrimental to your health. The Filipino sensation, a headline grabber for much of his career, is showing no signs of slowing down.
His arrival as a lower weight sensation occurred in 2007 when Donaire blasted Vic Darchinyan in five rounds to win his maiden world title and ever since that explosive victory, he’s been part of boxing’s furniture never once threatening to go out of style.
In losses to the likes of Guillermo Rigondeaux, Nicholas Walters, Carl Frampton, and Naoya Inoue, Donaire has simply brushed himself down and built himself back to be a capable operator ready to go to war once again. A multi-weight world champion with a wealth of hard nights behind him, it’s a miracle that Donaire is still fighting today let alone registering stoppage victories at the highest level.
Last month’s win over Nordine Oubaali brought Donaire the WBC bantamweight strap as he upset the odds 17 months after giving Inoue the hardest fight of his remarkable career. Defeat to the Japanese monster enhanced Donaire’s legacy due to the manner he lost and when most predicted it was the ideal to bow out of the sport, Donaire had other ideas.
Once again a fighter with plenty of options, Donaire is not resting on the morals that have made him the fighter he is that is respected universally ten times over in the boxing world. Fresh off the Oubaali win, Doniare tackles John Riel Casimero on August 14th as he aims to regain the WBO title and add it to his expanding honours collection.
If successful, Donaire must defend his belts against Rigondeaux, the Cuban maestro who, for 36 minutes in 2013, made Nonito look like a four-fight novice who picked the sport up for something to do.
If Donaire can gain revenge eight years later, after having his career eulogy read out so many times, then that will surely be enough to shut down the discussion on “Fighter of the Year” conversations.
Oubaali, Casimero and Rigondeaux in the space of 12 months? Three wins would secure the aforementioned award in any year and you’d be foolish to suggest he can’t pull it off, nine full years after being regarded by many as the best of 2012 and shortly after he turns 39.