By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

 

BOXING fans either watched on tv or read in our national dailies how our aging multiple-titled world boxing champion Nonito Donaire, Jr. recaptured the World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight tiara by pummeling the defending and undefeated champion, Nordine Oubaali of France last Sunday (May 30 PH time) held at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson City, California. We saw how the Talibon, Bohol-born Filipino-American Donaire thrashed the flamboyant Frenchman by flooring him twice initially in the third round with his vaunted powerful consecutive left hooks. Then he finished off Oubaali halfway in the fourth canto with a devastating uppercut that sent the Frenchman down for the third time and for good.

His victory improved his record to 46 wins with six losses and 27 knockouts, while the less-skilled Oubaali’s mark was tarnished for the first time after 18 professional fights, registering 12 via the short routes. Donaire’s victory also acclaimed him as the oldest bantamweight champion of the world, so far.

And unknown to many, he’s the seventh Filipino current world titlist after World Boxing Association (WBA) super welterweight Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight Jerwin Ancajas, IBF and WBA minimumweight titleholders Rene Mark Cuarto and Vic Saludar, respectively, World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight king John Riel Casimero and WBA super flyweight Donnie Nietes. Yes, the Donaire’s victory last Sunday not only reclaimed his belt but also placed our nation as the world’s winningest country in professional boxing, during these days. Of course, I doff my hat to them, especially Donaire, a.k.a. “The Filipino Flash,” who pushed our country back to the limelight.

“Father time is on my side,” said Donaire, “I believe the human body is an incredible machine if we take care of it. Mentally, you are only as strong as your mind can be, but being at this age is not the question, but it is my ability to grow. It is not what age you are, but how strong you are mentally. I’m back and I’m ready for the next one,” he elaborated.

Being a former athlete myself, I fully agree with what he said. He was really talking about discipline. Indeed, first and foremost, we must always take good care of our health if we want to continue and achieve our ultimate goal. That happened also to Umingan cyclist my godson (wedding) Santy Barnachea who at 39 years of age surprisingly won the punishing two-week 2015 Ronda Pilipinas bikathon plum and became the only four-time Tour champ [so far] in the history of Philippine cycling. Another record for Pangasinan cycling.

Latest report says that the four-division world champ Donaire is inclined to give Oubaali a rematch, probably end of this year or early next year. And if successful again, Donaire said that he wants to fight the other organization titleholders to unify the 118 pounds division of the IBF, WBA, IBA, (International Boxing Association), and even his compatriot the formidable champ Casimero of WBO.

If Pacquiao then 40 years of age also defied ‘father time’ by outpointing the much younger and unbeaten Kurt Thurman to win the WBA super welterweight crown almost two years ago, Donaire duplicated the feat with much gusto. I believe our other world champs might do it too, headed by the 37-year-old Nietes, now the longest reigning world champ. Nietes, like Donaire, is four-division world champ who first won the minimumweight, light flyweight, flyweight. Today he’s the super flyweight king.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.” EZEKIEL 18: 21

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