Of Brothers and Boxing: Vengeance or Acceptance
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 26 May 2023
I am wondering what's going through the mind of Jason Moloney after seeing or learning that his twin brother Andrew got posterized in a last round knockout loss to Japanese Junto Nakatani this previous weekend in a failed attempt for the vacant WBO super flyweight title.
Jason has earlier emerged victorious in his own attempt at the vacant IBF bantamweight crown by boxing his way to a majority decision win over heavy handed Filipino Vincent Astrolabio in Stockton, California.
Since the two divisions are just three pounds apart, what is the possibility of Jason working for a defense of his newly won title against Nakatani or Jason himself going down in weight to challenge the Japanese for the latter's own crown for the opportunity to avenge his brother's gruesome defeat?
Revenge is such a powerful motivation in pro boxing particularly involving fighting brothers, one of whom suffered brutal defeat.
The case of the Donaire brothers easily comes to mind.
In October 2006, brothers Glenn and Nonito Donaire figured in separate bouts in Las Vegas, Nevada with Glenn challenging for the IBF world flyweight title against rugged defending champion Vic Darchinyan of Armenia. Nonito on the other hand fought for the NABF super flyweight crown ahead of that fight.
Glenn lost by sixth round technical decision as he was rendered unable to continue after suffering a broken jaw caused by legit blow according to the Darchinyan camp. Glenn camp claimed though that it was inflicted by Darchinyan's wayward elbow.
As his bout which he won by unanimous decision came before Glenn's fight, Nonito saw what happened and right there and then, determined to challenge Darchinyan at the earliest opportunity to avenge his loss believing that his brother did not get the fair shake from ring officials from the Armenian's over the top roughness and ruggedness. Even if it meant Nonito moving down to flyweight from super flyweight.
That opportunity came in July of 2007 and as he promised, Nonito methodically punished Darchinyan albeit himself sustaining extreme dose of Vic's ruggedness and viciousness earlier on. Nonito continued to lure in Darchinyan who on the other hand was itching to land his trademark left to break him down and wear him out to a kayo or stoppage.
Like a masterful matador, Nonito set the then undefeated brash Armenian for the coup de grace in the middle rounds. As Darchinyan was about to throw what he thought as his finishing bomb of a left hook, Nonito beat him to the punch unleashing a powerful left hook of his own that sent Darchinyan face first to the canvas.
With blood dripping from his face, Darchinyan tried to rise up on unsteady legs but as quickly stumbled face first again near the ropes prompting the referee to stop the fight and declare Nonito as TKO winner and new IBF flyweight champion.
Glenn was among those in Nonito's corner together with their father trainer Nonito Sr to witness that sweet revenge.
Another case of fighting brothers getting their revenge, though this one took five years in the making was that of the Spinks, Leon and Michael.
In 1981, the older Leon, then already a former world champion challenged Larry Holmes for his WBC heavyweight crown and was easily disposed off in just three rounds.
It didn't help that Leon remained a smallish heavyweight weighing less than 200 lbs which Holmes then standing at 6-3 and weighing more than 220 lbs exploited
Little did Holmes imagined that his long reign and undefeated record would be ended five years later by Leon's another smallish brother Michael who was at that time the WBC light heavyweight titlist.
Photo: Nonito Donaire Jr reacts after sending Vic Darchinyan to the canvas, knocking out the Armenian to exact revenge for his brother Glenn who earlier lost to Darchinyan.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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