Donaire out to regain lofty niche in boxing

SEVEN months ago, Nonito Donaire not only lost his WBO super bantamweight title but also his position as one of the top pound for pound boxers in the world when he was outpointed by WBA champ Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba in their unification bout at the Radio City Music Hall in New York.

This weekend in Texas, The Filipino Flash will make his return against the man who launched him to boxing super stardom.

Flashback to 2007. A virtual unknown Donaire came out of nowhere and snared his first world title when he knocked out Vic Darhinyan in five rounds in Connecticut. That feat gave Donaire the distinction of winning both the “KO of the Year” and “Upset of the Year” honors from the esteemed Ring Magazine.

This Sunday (Nov. 10 Philippine Time), both boxers will meet again in a fight that could largely determine their future.

The 30-year-old Donaire (31W-2L, 20 KO’s) has reconciled with his estranged father, Nonito Sr. for this all important match. It was the elder Donaire who engineered his son’s stunning upset victory against the Australian known as the “Raging Bull.”

The 37-year-old Darchinyan (39W-5L-1D, 28 KOs) has lost in world title fights for the past four years against the likes of Abner Mares of the US, Anselmo Moreno of Panama and Shinsuke Yamanaka of Japan. Last May, he beat Javier Gallo by TKO in the 4th round in Laredo, Texas.

Donaire on the other hand, has won three more world titles since their last meeting. /RENE bONSUBRE jR.