Nonito Gonzales Donaire Jr. ( ; born November 16, 1982) is a Filipino-American professional boxer. He has held multiple world championships in four weight classes, from flyweight to featherweight, and is the oldest boxer in history to win a bantamweight world title (at age 38), as well as being the first three-time champion in that weight class. Donaire has also held world championships in three consecutive decades: the 2000s, 2010s and 2020s, being the sixth boxer to do so after Evander Holyfield, Manny Pacquiao, Bernard Hopkins, Erik Morales, and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
In total, Donaire has held nine world titles by the main four boxing sanctioning bodies. He has also held the International Boxing Organization (IBO) flyweight title, the World Boxing Association (WBA) interim super flyweight title, and the Ring magazine and lineal super bantamweight titles.
Donaire is popularly known as "The Filipino Flash""Juanma, Donaire KO foes." FightNews.com. July 10, 2010. Accessed October 8, 2010. and is a two-time winner of The Rings Knockout of the Year award, in 2007 and 2011. He reached a peak pound for pound ranking of third by The Ring in 2011,Nathanielsz, Ronnie (February 22, 2011). "Nonito Donaire Climbs in Pound For Pound Rankings". BoxingScene. Retrieved January 7, 2018. and was named Fighter of the Year in 2012 by the Boxing Writers Association of America.
Early life Donaire was born in Talibon, Bohol, Philippines, the third of four children to Nonito C. Donaire Sr. (born 1959, South Cotabato) and Imelda M. Gonzales (born 1950, Talibon). His older brother is former boxer Glenn Donaire,"Nonito Donaire Jr.: Star on the rise." Philstar.com August 24, 2009. Accessed April 14, 2013.Dixon T. "Nonito Donaire: The Sadness Behind the Smile." Boxing News January 6, 2011. Accessed March 6, 2012. and his cousin is former boxer Richard Donaire.Varella B. "Lumacad: Redemption Starts With A Donaire." Eastside boxing.com August 25, 2009. Accessed August 25, 2009.
Until he was six years of age, Donaire lived in General Santos and attended the same school as future eight-division world champion, Manny Pacquiao."Hunger has Donaire going up in weight." ESPN.com August 13, 2009. Accessed April 14, 2013. Donaire was a child of small stature and was bullied.Reyes M. "Champ who nearly took his own life because of bullies now looks forward to bigger foes." Philippine Daily Inquirer October 21, 2011. Accessed March 6, 2012.Chong M. "Nonito Donaire's Wife Speaks." My Boxing Fans.com February 15, 2011. Accessed March 6, 2012.Borges R. "No one's bullying Donaire any longer." ESPN.com November 27, 2007. Accessed March 7, 2012.
Donaire's father was an amateur boxer who competed in the U.S. in the early 1990s. His paternal grandfather was born in Hawaii, and this gave Donaire American citizenship under the principle of jus Sanguinis."Q&A: Nonito Donaire." RingTV November 5, 2013. Accessed July 19, 2015. In 1993, at the age of eleven, Donaire joined his father in Van Nuys, California. They later lived in San Leandro, California.Reyes M. "Waiting in the wings." Philippine Daily Inquirer March 3, 2012. Accessed March 6, 2012. and San Mateo County, California.Henson J. "Donaire goes for broke against overweight foe." The Philippine Star August 16, 2009. Accessed March 6, 2012.
Donaire said that during his childhood he wished for more attention from his parents and, after his brother started boxing, the attention was given to him. This was his reason for entering the sport of boxing at the age of eleven even though he did not enjoy it.Guillermo D. "Nonito Donaire Jr. opens up about his dad and former trainer on Fathers Day." Philboxing.com June 22, 2009. Accessed March 7, 2012. His father supported his choice as he felt it would keep Donaire off the streets.Santoliquito J. "Nonito Donaire Q&A." The Ring August 13, 2009. Accessed March 7, 2012. During their younger years, Donaire and Glenn would spar. Donaire also watched videos of his hero, Alexis Argüello, and from them he learned to throw a powerful left hook.
While enrolled at the San Lorenzo High School in San Lorenzo, California, both Nonito and Glenn won several regional and district amateur boxing championships. In his first amateur bout, Nonito beat his opponent with straight punches, all the while thinking that "I'm going to kill him before he kills me." However, Donaire had little confidence until he had five professional knockout victories.
Amateur career As a young amateur, Donaire won three U.S. national championships: the National Silver Gloves (1998), National Junior Olympics (1999) and the National USA Tournament (2000). He also won the 1999 International Junior Olympics gold medal. Donaire's amateur record was 68–8 with 5 technical knockouts (TKOs).Sims S."NABF October 2006 Fighter of the Month." NABFnews.com October 24, 2006. Archive September 28, 2007. Accessed July 7, 2012.
Professional career In 2001, Donaire and his brother became professional boxers. They signed contracts with a promoter, Jackie Kallen. Donaire was paid a monthly salary of $1,500. In 2001, after a controversial decision, Donaire lost his second fight against Rosendo Sanchez. This impassioned him to win his fights which he did until April 2013. After four professional bouts, Donaire and his brother left their contracts with Kallen and returned to Manila and then to San Leandro, where there were fewer distractions.
Early years On September 9, 2002, in Guam, Donaire won his first regional title, the vacant WBO Asia Pacific flyweight title. He knocked out Kaichon Sor Vorapin in the second round. On January 20, 2006, Donaire won his second regional title, the NABF super flyweight title, by defeating Kahren Harutyunyan via split decision (SD) on ShoBox. Two judges scored the bout 97–92 for Donaire while the third scored it 95–94 for Harutyunan."Donaire Outpoints Harutyunyan." Pound4pound.com 2006. Accessed April 14, 2013. On October 7, 2006, Donaire defeated Oscar Andrade, a veteran boxer, by unanimous decision (UD) with the scorecards reading 118–109, 116–112, and 116–112.
Flyweight
Donaire vs. Darchinyan
On July 7, 2007, Donaire won the IBF and IBO flyweight titles with a one-punch, fifth-round knockout (KO) of the then undefeated Vic Darchinyan."Donaire Shocks Darchinyan." Archive.org, Boxing Times.com July 7, 2007. This victory was awarded Ring Magazine's "Knockout of the Year" and "Upset of the Year"."IBF champ coming to Manila soon." Mb.com July 10, 2007."Freewheeling Fighting Awards, Year Two." Boxingscene.com. Accessed April 14, 2013.
On July 31, 2007, Donaire met Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Donaire said the experience was, "an overwhelming feeling. It was indescribable. The moment I walked up the stairs and she was up there and when I looked it was a moment when I couldn't even look at her face. It was a great honor.""Donaire Ecstatic over Meeting with President Arroyo." Philboxing.com August 1, 2007. Accessed April 14, 2013. Then, on December 1, 2007, Donaire made the first defense of his IBF and IBO titles against Luis Maldonado of Mexico, winning via technical knockout (TKO) in the eighth round. Donaire said, "I guess my validation was today but I didn't feel my best; I felt sluggish. I didn't have my legs. I don't know what the problem was. I couldn't move well so I tried to rely on my upper body movement."Tuazon J. "Donaire wins by 8th round TKO over Maldonado!" Philboxing.com December 2, 2007. Accessed April 14, 2013.
In late June 2008, Donaire severed his association with his promoter, Gary Shaw. Donaire had not been offered the number of fights his contract demanded. Shaw also failed to disclose revenue from fights as demanded by the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act."Flyweight titlist Donaire, junior middleweight Kirkland fire promoter." ESPN.com June 20, 2008. Accessed April 14, 2013. Days after leaving Gary Shaw Productions, Donaire signed a contract with Top Rank Boxing."Nonito signs with Top Rank." Boxingscene.com. Accessed April 14, 2013.
Donaire vs. Mthalane On November 2, 2008, Donaire made the second defense of his titles with a sixth-round (1:31) TKO of Moruti Mthalane."Donaire gets the job done with 6th round TKO win." Philboxing.com November 2, 2008. Accessed April 14, 2013.afp.google.com/article "Donaire stops Mthalane to keep IBF flyweight title." Afp.google.com November 1, 2008. Accessed April 14, 2013.<ref>Dela Cruz E. "Donaire Wins in Six Impressive Rounds!" BoxingCapital.com.</ "Donaire passes pre-fight checkup, but has asthma." The Philippine Star August 14, 2009. Accessed March 7, 2012.</ref> Although Donaire's asthma condition was well managed in general, after his illness in the Mthalane fight, Donaire became estranged from his father who did not acknowledge the medical problem.
On April 19, 2009, Donaire faced Raul Martinez, for a third defense of his titles at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines. Donaire scored a TKO in the fourth round (2:42)."Donaire TKOs Martinez in fourth." ESPN.com April 19, 2009. Accessed April 14, 2013. For this match, Donaire was trained by the Peñalosa brothers: Gerry, Dodie Boy and Jonathan. After the match, Donaire was recorded in the Ring Magazine pound for pound rankings in seventh position.Fischer D. "Nonito Donaire in The Ring Magazine pound for pound rankings." Ringtv.com. May 4, 2009. Accessed April 14, 2013.
Super flyweight The International Boxing Federation ordered a rematch between Donaire and the previous challenger, Moruti Mthalane to take place by August 1, 2009. However, Donaire, now wished to move up to the super flyweight division."Flyweight titlist Donaire, junior middleweight Kirkland fire promoter." ESPN.com April 20, 2009. Accessed April 14, 2013.
Donaire vs. Concepción Donaire was to fight Hugo Fidel Cazares on August 15, 2009, but negotiations failed."Donaire vs. Cazares Appears to be on for WBA Title." Boxingscene.com. Accessed April 14, 2013. Rafael Concepción replaced Cazares as Donaire's opponent for the WBA interim super flyweight titleChrist S. "Rafael Concepcion subbed in as Aug. 15 opponent for Nonito Donaire." Badlefthook.com. July 2, 2009. Accessed April 14, 2013. Donaire hired a conditioning coach, Mike Bazzel, to assist Dodie Boy and Jonathan Peñalosa in his training at the Undisputed Boxing Gym, San Carlos. Donaire dedicated his fight against Concepcion to the memory of Corazon "Cory" Aquino and requested Everlast, a boxing equipment company, provide a yellow robe with the inscription "I. M. O. (in memory of) former Pres. Cory Aquino." Concepcion failed to weigh in within the super flyweight limit of , meaning the title would only be on the line for Donaire. He captured the title via twelve-round UD. After his win, Donaire was honored in a motorcade in Manila organised by Alfredo Lim, the mayor.
In late 2009, Donaire began training under Robert Garcia.Nathanielsz R. "Donaire's new trainer is Robert Garcia." PhilBoxing.com December 23, 2009. Accessed March 6, 2012.Velin B,"Donaire ready to test higher weight against Vazquez Jr." USA Today February 3, 2012. Accessed March 6, 2012.
Donaire vs. Vargas On February 13, 2010, Donaire fought Manuel Vargas in the first defense of his WBA interim title. The fight took place at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, Nevada. Vargas, a late replacement for Gerson Guerrero, had to move up three weight divisions in order to participate. The bout headlined the card titled "Pinoy Power 3." Donaire won the fight with a third-round (1:33) KO."Nonito Donaire knocks Manuel Vargas out in three." BoxingScene.com February 13, 2010. Accessed June 11, 2010.