Nonito Donaire nicknamed The Filipino Flash because of his speed and reflexes born on November 16, 1982 in General Santos City, Philippines, is a Filipino boxer and the current IBF and IBO World Champion in the Flyweight division. Nonito Donaire did win three national amateur tournaments. The National Silver Gloves in 1998, National Junior Olymipics in 1999, and the National USA Tournament in 2000. Donaire also won the International Junior Olympics in 1999. September 9, 2002 Nonito Donaire won his first regional title by defeating Kaichon Sor Vorapin for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific flyweight title in Guam. Donaire knocked out the future world title challenger in the second round. January 20, 2006 Nonito won his second regional title, the NABF Super Flyweight Title, by defeating Kahren Harutyunyan on Shobox by split decision. The scores were 97-92 twice for Donaire and 95-94 for Harutyunan. October 7, 2006 Donaire added the NABO Super Flyweight Title and successfully defended his NABF title against veteran Oscar Andrade by the scores of 118-109 and 116-112 twice. Donaire won the IBF Flyweight Title with a knockout of undefeated Vic Darchinyan on July 7, 2007. The US-based Donaire is due for a big Manila, Philippines homecoming 2nd week of July, 2007 after scoring a brutal fifth-round knockout of Vic Darchinyan in Bridgeport, Connecticut. His counter left hook that landed on Darchinyan’s jaw is an early candidate for knockout of the year and even upset of the year for 2007. Since his victory of Darchinyan, he has tried to challenge the remaining title holders in his division. Specifically Daisuke Naito, the WBC title holder, and Takefumi Sakata, who holds the WBA title. However, Japan's boxing commission only recognizes the WBA and WBC as legitimate world titles and does not at all acknowledge the IBF or the WBO thus making such match ups impossible for Donaire.
On July 31, 2007 Donaire met Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo along with Florante Condes, who won the WBO minimumweight title on the same weekend as Donaire. 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.†On December 1, 2007, Donaire defended his title against Luis Maldonado of Mexico by technical knockout in the 8th round in his first title defense to keep his IBF flyweight crown. On January 21, 2008, New Jersey promoter Gary Shaw confirmed in Manila IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire’s title defense versus Hussein Hussein in Dubai on April 4. Third Force Promotions per president Noli Eala will stage the triple world championship card.
