Nonito Donaire shows that age is no factor in winning bantamweght boxing championship

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Nonito Donaire celebrates after his knokdown of Nordine Oubaali.

For professional athletes, 38 is considered to be old. Nonito Donaire surprised boxing fans with his knockout of Nordine Oubaali last Saturday. And with that accomplishment Donaire became the oldest man to become a bantamweight champion.

"There's a reason they call me the 'Filipino Flash,'" said Donaire. He beat the younger Oubaali convincingly, knocking down the Frenchman twice in the third round and finished him with a crushing hook in the fourth, showing the speed and power that made him a champion when he knocked out Vic Darchinyan in 2007 to win the flyweight belt.'

“Being at this age is really not the question,” the Filipino American champion said. “It’s about my performance. It’s the ability to grow. I believe it matters not what your age is. It matters how you are mentally, how strong you are mentally. … I believe the human body is an incredible machine. It can do incredible things if we take care of it. That’s the question, that taking care of our body allows us to be strong mentally. You’re only as strong as your mind can be.”

Donaire hasn't fought for 16 months since his listliss 12-round loss to Japan's Naoya Inoue, and it looked at that time that Donaire was ready for retirement.

During his time off, not only has he been studying his craft and keeping fit, he's been educating himself about the plight of Asian Americans, who have come under attack from racists.

Before and after his fight he wore a blue T-shirt with the message "Stop Asian Hate."

The racist attacks against AAPI make no sense, said Donaire, who lives and trains in the San Francisco Bay Area, as he took the time to speak on the issue immediately after his fight.

“I want to make the statement that we’re all one,” Donaire said in the ring still perspiring after the fight. “If we could help each other, then we should help each other. 

"Let us stop Asian hate. My elderly father is afraid to go out. Let’s stop the hate, any kind of hate.”

TGIF FEATURE: Pacquiao and Donaire fighting the same night

Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire on the same card at last.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, Filipino fighters Manny Pacquiao and Nonito "Flash" Donaire, based in the San Francisco Bay Area, will be on the same Las Vegas boxing card this Saturday, Nov. 5.

Having two of the most exciting fighters on the same card has long been a goal of both pugilists for a long time. It is the dream ticket for Filipino fight fans.

Manny Pacquiao, the first-term Filipino senator and former congressman from General Santos City, an eight-division champion, will come out of retirement to fight Jessie Vargas for Vargas’ WBO welterweight title in the main event.

In the co-main event, Nonito Donaire, a four-division champion and current WBO super bantamweight champion, will make the second defense of his title against undefeated Las Vegan Jessie Magdaleno, fighting for a major title for the first time.

"This is a good boxing card because not only am I fighting on the card but [so is] my fellow Philippine boxer Nonito Donaire, who is the pride of the Philippines," Pacquiao said. "I think it is a good present for us and for the Philippine people for us to fight on this card together."

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Both fighters are on the downside of their careers and as much excitement the card has generated among Filipinos in the Philippines and in the U.S., it could very well be a major disappointment if both fighters lose. Both of their opponents are up-and-coming boxers and younger.

In April, Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KOs) won what he said then was his final fight, defeating Timothy Bradley by unanimous decision in their third meeting at the MGM Grand. That retirement didn't last long. It is his first fight since being elected to the Philippines Senate in May. 

Last month, Pacquiao, 37, confirmed that he would end his retirement to fight Vargas for the title he once owned. 

The pay-per-view event, staged at the Thomas & Mack Center on the UNLV campus, will not be aired by either HBO or Showtime, but instead will be handled by the promoter of the event, Top Rank, Inc.

Donaire (37-3, 24 KOs), like probably every current Filipino fighter, considers Pacquiao (58-6-2, 38 KOs) to be his boxing idol. He is excited to be on Pacquiao's card.

"It's incredible. It's something you look forward to," the 33-year old Donaire said. "I'm just excited. We can give the people what they've wanted. When I signed with Top Rank (in 2008) one of the reasons I signed was to be on a card with Manny, but it never happened until now. I am focused on my outcome and beating Magdaleno but when I heard I would be on the card with Manny I was very excited."

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