DONAIRE SAYS GABI WAS A GREAT HELP
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 10 Jul 2007
Newly crowned IBF/IBO world flyweight champion Nonito Donaire says Diosdado Gabi who fought Vic Darchinyan and lost by an eighth round TKO helped him out a lot even though he had worked out only for a week at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles.
In an overseas telephone conversation with Viva Sports/Manila Standard Today, Donaire said Gabi “taught me a little bit and told me what this guy (Darchinyan) did and he helped out a lot for this fight.”
Donaire also thanked Roach who he said was “really kind to us opening up the gym for us. It was good. Being at the Wild Card was really great.”
Nicknamed “The Filipino Flash” Donaire who walked into the arena at Bridgeportm Connecticiut with his handlers carrying a huge Filipino flag and said how proud he was to be a Filipino said he would “love to visit the Philippines if the people out there want me to be there. I would love to visit my country, I would love to get the opportunity to really talk to everybody to let them know this is how I am and I am really proud of my country and I am really proud of the Philippines.”
Donaire said that in his younger days even as an amateur he represented the country and always carried the flag since my first professional fight. I walked into the ring with my flag. I am always part of that no matter if people are supported me or not. I was Filipino and that’s one statement when I always go into the ring.”
Donaire made it clear that “just because I grew up here doesn’t mean that I wont be able to speak my native tongue. My father has always told us to speak it and its worked well because I can understand not just English but Tagalog and Visaya as well.”
Donaire also said “I would like to congratulate Florante Condes for his great achievement for keeping the Philippines out there and my team wishes to congratulate him as well.”
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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