DONAIRE SAYS ?LEAVE MY WIFE ALONE?
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 12 Nov 2008
IBF/IBO flyweight champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire is visibly upset over a series of accusations that his wife, the former Rachel Marcial, a Taekwondo star, had created a rift between him and his father/trainer Nonito Donaire Sr and that she was disliked both by his promoter Top Rank and his manager Cameron Dunkin.
In an email to www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports following an earlier conversation, Donaire said ?Enough is enough. Leave my wife alone. You have disrespected my family, my career and myself. I am disappointed that not one of you who are my so-called friends and have utilized my social status for certain favors have yet to consider my feelings on the effect that these articles have on my family.?
Donaire said he refuses to confirm or deny any of the allegations stating that ?our team, our family matters are deeper than what has been stated and has a long history, even before Rachel came along.?
Donaire noted that his manager Cameron Dunkin had ?tried to keep us together since the beginning? and made it clear he would not be ?a part of the circus that embarrasses my family.?
He said they first came to know about the supposed problems was through what he termed ?the barrage of articles.? Donaire said ?my father knows how to reach me if he chooses to but its between him and I and does not involve my wife. These things will end where it should have stayed ? behind closed doors.?
In a final note Donaire said that his wife?s standing with Top Rank has received nothing but praise ?relating to the communication and organization she took part in.? He said any reporter was free to call Top Rank or Dunkin to verify his statements.
www.insidesports, Standard Today and Viva Sports had an international three-way conference call with Donaire and his manager Wednesday in which Dunkin confirmed that Top Rank ?has no problems with Rachel at all. We did several things together with Top Rank and they are absolutely fine and I?m fine with Rachel.?
At the same time Dunkin said if there were any problems it was a private, family matter and that all these stories ?have been blown out of proportion. It led to one thing after another and it got worse and worse that?s why we want to bring it to a halt because its not true and although he (Donaire Sr) is very upset and emotional right now. We want to bring it to a stop. We want to let everything clear." He stressed " nobody hates Rachel.?
Donaire said he didn?t know anything because ?training camp went well and after the fight everything went well. When we got back here (Los Angeles) it was totally unexpected to see all of this. There was nothing bad between my Dad and I. If he had something to say he would have said it or called me."
Top photo (L-R): Rachel, Nonito, Jr., Nonito, Sr. (partly hidden) and Arum during the post-fight press conference of the Chavez-Vanda and Donaire-Mthalane card on Nov. 1 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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