Among the Philippines’ pound-for-pound pioneers, 2001 saw Nonito Donaire Jr. as the next national boxing treasure, with the PacMan planting the seeds. Since his one-punch upset to secure the IBF and IBO flyweight titles from an undefeated Vic Darchinyan in 2007, he has won the hearts of Filipinos worldwide—apart from his father.
The Filipino Flash’s hopes of becoming the oldest bantamweight world champion are now up in the air, suffering a unanimous defeat in the hands of 27-year-old Mexican Alexandro Santiago after a 115-113, 116-112, 116-112 scored bout. With the odds initially favoriting the future Filipino Boxing Hall of Famer, his father figuratively sat in his opponent's corner, hoping to witness a knockout in the hands of now the first-time WBC Bantamweight Champion.
As heart-wrenching as it is to have kin side with the opposition, the comment overtly describes the rocky father-son relationship, initially witnessed through Donaire Sr.’s decision to join the camp of fellow bantamweight Reymart Gaballo in 2021.
When a fellow netizen raised the question regarding the outcome of the Donaire Jr.-Santiago bout on boxer Mike Plania’s live stream, Donaire Sr. responded, mentioning “knockout siya,” drawing more fuel to the fire.
Regardless of the unfortunate outcome, the now 40-year-old Donaire motions to continue his 13-year professional boxing legacy, noting to be a greater example to his children than his senior.
“I am going to keep going, I am going to keep fighting, and I am going to get undisputed… It is strap season, you know what I am just cleaning up the house. The only thing I don't have in my record is becoming undisputed, and that is my goal,” Donaire mentions.