Rey Anthony Chiu
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, December 27, 2012 (PIA)—Boholano by roots and Filipino in spirit, pugilist Nonito Donaire is now named ESPN.com Boxer of the year (2012), hands down.
The bigger feat still is that he is the only one boxer in the world who steps in to the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association for random urine test and blood testing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year, a report confirmed by ph.sports.yahoo.com.
ESPN, or the less popular Entertainment, Sports and Programming Network is an American global cable television network that focuses on broadcasting sports-related programming including live and recorded telecasts is also considered the premier sports news authority.
According to ESPN, Donaire, also called the Filipino Flash, who is now wearing the junior featherweight title belt was an easy pick, among contenders that also include Mexican fighter Juan Manuel Marquez and another Filipino fighter Brian Viloria.
Donaire, whose family traces its roots from Talibon, moved to General Santos, in the southern Philippines where he studied until late childhood.
His father, Nonito Sr. then migrated to the United States and his family followed.
In the US, Donaire started as amateur boxer and then punched his way to the big leagues.
According to ESPN.com, Donaire (31-1, 20 knockouts) began 2012 having vacated his bantamweight belts and preparing to move up to junior featherweight.
Four fights later, in an exceptionally busy year by modern standards for an elite pound-for-pound champion, the quick-fisted and powerful Donaire stands atop the 122-pound division and was the easy pick for 2012 ESPN.com Boxer of the Year, the sports website stated.
Donaire, 30, easily handled the move up in weight, winning all four of his fights in dominant fashion. He dropped each of his foes -- scoring seven knockdowns in all -- won twice by knockout and collected two world titles.
Add to that his trailblazing approach to drug testing: He is the only fighter in the world who has signed on with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association for random urine and blood testing 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
As an opening fight for the year, Donaire stepped off from his usual comfort weight zone to face Puerto Rican Wilfredo Varquez Jr., whom he dropped in the ninth round to win the vacant title.
Five months later, in July, he faced South Africa's Jeffrey Mathebula, whom he also sent to the canvas in the fourth round, to earn a unification belt.
Donaire again scored two impressive knockdowns against a Japanese titleholder whom he also sent out for good in the ninth round, two months later.
Weeks ago, Donaire sent Mexican former titlist Jorge Arce to the canvas twice before giving him the haymaker which left the challenger out for good.
Donaire’s feat is the fourth Boxer of the year award given to a Filipino. Three of the awards were for Manny Pacquiao (2006, 2008, 2009).
For the award, Donaire lorded over Juan Manuel Marquez (55-6-1 with 40 Kos), Danny Garcia (25-0 and 16 KOs), Roberto Guerero (31-1-1 with 18 Kos), Leo SantaCruz (23-0-1 with 13 Kos), Andre Ward (26-0, 14 Kos), Brian Viloria (32-3, 19 Kos) and Carl Froch (30-2, 22 Kos).
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