Is The “Filipino Flash’s” Inner Fire Burning Out?

Alarms went off in the boxing world when Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire signed up to compete in the Bantamweight division at the second World Boxing Super Series (WBSS). This is because Donaire hasn’t fought in the 118lb weight class since 2011, when he won both the WBC and WBA titles.

The “Filipino Flash” (38-5-0, 24 KOs) will return the 3rd of November at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland against an adversary who will truly put his experience to the test and force him to showcase his current skill level. The opponent in question is none other than the Irishman Ryan Burnett, the WBA Super World Champion. They will be competing not only for the aforementioned title, but also for the vacant WBC Diamond Title.

Its also interesting that Burnett (19-0-0, 9 KOs), as the champion, specifically chose Donaire to be his opponent in the quarterfinals; a decision he made at a gala, which was held the 20th of July, at the Rossiya Theatre, in Moscow, Russia. Perhaps this choice was influenced by Donaire’s age (35 years), his deteriorating physique after 17 years in the sport, and an overall decline in his athletic performance.

The 26-year-old Burnett has stated in multiple interviews and on social media his reasoning for choosing the Filipino as his opponent insisting that Donaire is an extraordinary champion, a fighter who has conquered world titles in four divisions and that, with this match up, he will be forced to bring out the best in himself.

Burnett and Donaire, as well as the other participants of the WBSS, will have to overcome the obstacle that is the Japanese Naoya Inoue (17-0-0, 15 KOs), winner by KO in the 1st round against the Dominican Juan Carlos Payano, October 7th, at Yokohama Arena, in Japan. The fight only lasted one minute and 10 seconds, with Inoue defending and retaining the WBA World Bantamweight Title.

The winner of Burnett vs Donaire will compete in the semifinals against the South African Zolani “The Last Born” Tete (28-3-0, 21 KOs), who unanimously defeated the inexperienced Russian Mijail Aloyan on the 13th of October in Yekaterinburg, Russia, successfully defending the WBO World Bantamweight Title. Meanwhile, the 25-year-old Inoue will face off against the Puerto Rican Emmanuel “Manny” Rodríguez, who defeated the Australian Jason Moloney by split decision on the 20th of October in Orlando, Florida.

Nonito Donaire faces a great challenge

The World Super Series represents a huge challenge for Donaire. If he were to suffer a loss, especially by way of knockout, it could mean the end of his career. Donaire has only lost this way once before at the hands of the Jamaican Nicholas “The Axe Man” Walters in the Featherweight division in 2014. If history were to repeat itself, it would indicate that Donaire has little or nothing left to offer inside the ring.

Nevertheless, Donaire deserves the highest level of praise for his brilliant career, which includes five world titles. Donaire climbed to the top of the pound-for-pound rankings thanks to his technical excellence and devastatingly powerful left hook, which he learned in his teenage years from watching videos of the deceased legend, Nicaraguan boxer Alexis Argüello. Its worth remembering that Donaire debuted with a spectacular 1st round KO in 2001, and despite loosing his second fight by unanimous decision, he proceeded to ascend like a rocket ship into the firmament of boxing greatness.

“The Jackal” Rigondeaux brings an end to the streak

After the loss against the American Rosendo Sánchez, March 10th of 2001, at the Pacific Sports Center in Vallejo, California, Donaire accumulated 30 consecutive victories over the course of 12 years. This impressive streak was brought to a halt when Donaire was defeated by the Cuban Guillermo “The Jackal” Rigondeaux, April 13th of 2013, at the Radio City Music Hall in New York. With this victory, Rigondeaux unified his WBA Super World Super Bantamweight Title with Donaire’s WBO World Super Bantamweight Title.

Following his loss at the hands of the Cuban Southpaw, Donaire took a 7 month break. He later returned on the 9th of December in a rematch against the Armenian Vic “The Raging Bull” Darchinyan. After an intense battle, the “Filipino Flash” defeated The Armenian for a second time by technical knockout in the 9th round. This was Donaire’s debut in the Featherweight division.

Defeated by Nicholas Walters

Donaire returned to the ring in May of 2014 to face the WBO Super World Featherweight champion the South African Simphiwe Vetyeka. The fight was stopped after 4 rounds due to a cut over Donaire’s left eyebrow, declaring him winner by technical decision.

Donaire’s next fight was against the Jamaican knockout artist Nicholas Walters on October 18th of 2014 at the Stub Hub Center in Carson, California. The Filipino suffered the first knockdown of his career in the 3rd round, due to a powerful right hook from his opponent. Walters took advantage of an opening in Donaire’s defense in the 6th round, landing a powerful shot to the head that sent the Filipino to the canvas in bad condition. Even though Donaire was able to get up to his feet, the referee called a stop to the contest seconds before the end of the round, making Walters the new champion.

WBO Super Bantamweight Champion

Donaire returned to the 122lb division and, after scoring a few knockout victories, once again raised the WBO title when he unanimously defeated the Mexican César “Corazón” Juárez on December 11th of 2015 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Donaire came out of his next fight with his hand raised, but was then defeated by the American southpaw Jessie Magdaleno in November of 2016 at the Thomas and Mack Center, in Nevada.

The shift in weight classes continued as Donaire unanimously defeated the young Mexican Featherweight Rubén “El Tibio” García, acquiring the vacant WBC Silver Title. But in his next bout, which took place in April of this year, Donaire suffered a unanimous decision loss against the Irish Carl “The Jackal” Frampton in Belfast, North Ireland.

The Super World Series offers millions in prize money and the Muhammad Ali Trophy. Is Donaire ready to descend two weight classes and deliver a good, solid performance? Or is the “Filipino Flash’s” inner fire burning out, resulting in him finding himself at the point of inevitable retirement? The answers are close. Very close.

Translated by E.G. for J.J. Alvarez of Boxeo.tv

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