DONAIRE PRAISES PACQUIAO
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 26 Oct 2008
Just like other Filipino boxers, reigning IBF/IBO flyweight champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire has praised ring idol and national treasure Manny Pacquiao saying ?we?re just thankful for him being there.?
Donaire was answering a question from American boxing writer Steve Kim who wanted to know how important Pacquiao is to the Philippines.
Donaire said in response during his pre-fight conference call ?he?s the key. He was the key to opening the door. He?s done everything for all the Filipino fighters . We can always thank him for everything. I mean just endless thanks because he?s done a lot for the Philippines, for the Filipino community and for the Filipino fighter?for me as well. So we just bow our heads.?
Asked by Kim how much of an opportunity that means for Donaire in terms of his own marketability and building a fan base because of Pacquiao?s popularity, the IBF/IBO world flyweight champion said ?I just do my best. Just being a few Filipinos in the industry it helps out too because he?s Manny Pacquiao and we?re coming up.?
Donaire went on ?I?m coming up and then people are seeing that, ?hey, Filipino people have talent and stuff like that. So it helps a lot knowing that?s there.?
WBO world bantamweight champion Gerry Penalosa has always maintained that what Pacquiao has done the country and for Filipino boxers is immeasurable. He said Pacquiao opened the door to the US for all the other young fighters striving to make a name for themselves.
Cebu boxing patron Tony Aldeguer who has a roster of fine, world-rated fighters such as Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista, Z ?The Dream? Gorres, Michael Domingo, Milan Melindo and several other promising young fighters has always paid tribute to Pacquiao as both the inspiration to other fighters and the one individual who paved the way for other boxers and earned the respect of the international community for the Philippines.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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