DONAIRE SAYS HE ROOTED FOR DARCHINYAN TO WIN BECAUSE HE WANTS HIM
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 13 Dec 2009
WBA super flyweight interim champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire revealed that he was rooting for Vic Darchinyan because he wanted the WBC/WBA super flyweight champion to win against Mexican Tomas Rojas so he could “get his confidence back so we could make a fight happen.”
Darchinyan scored a one-punch knockout of Rojas at the Rancho Mirage in California when he caught the lanky Rojas who was out-boxing him but crouched and got caught by a left that put the Mexican down and out for the full count.
As always, Darchinyan who improved to 33-2-1 with 27 knockouts called out Donaire who knocked him out with a perfectly timed punch to win the IBF/IBO flyweight titles on July 7, 2007 and earned the award for the “Knockout of the Year.”
Donaire told www.insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports shortly after the fight ended “I’ve been waiting for that fight. I’m here and I hope he’s got enough confidence for him to step up into the ring with me again.”
Donaire added, “he always calls me out. He’s always doing that. There’s nothing new about Darchinyan. That’s how he is and that’s how he’ll always be. If they can make the fight happen that’s fine. I’m well ready for this fight and I’m actually excited to see that the fight will happen.”
Donaire said Rojas was “doing well using the jab and the right straight but he just got careless. That was actually a body punch that landed in the face as Rojas ducked down and walked into the punch. You know how lucky that was.”
“The Filipino Flash” who has a record of 22-1 with 14 knockouts faces Gerson Guerrero (34-8, 26 KO’s) in Top Rank’s “Pinoy Power III” fight card which he headlines at the Las Vegas Hilton on February 13 which will be telecast by the giant Philippine broadcast network ABS-CBN across the nation and on The Filipino Channel, globally.
File photo shows Donaire (R) sending Darchinyan to the canvas during their July, 2007 fight.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 FEBRUARY 2026: Shakur Schools Teofimo to Become 4-Division Champ; Zayas Unifies WBA/WBO Superwelter; Kelly Beats Murtazaliev
By Eric Armit, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Grand Week for Boxing in NY
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories
Wed, 04 Feb 2026National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta
Wed, 04 Feb 2026Noah Lucas Palcis sees action in Bangkok chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Reymond Yanong Edges Out Hayato Ono for Split Decision Win in Japan
By Carlos Costa, Tue, 03 Feb 2026“I’m gonna smoke whoever is in front of me, Anthony Wright- Hearn makes his pro debut March 13 at Thunderdome 53
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Pacman's Cue Club Hosts J&P 10 Ball Cup from Feb. 4 to 7
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge is back
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026WILDER AND CHISORA FACE OFF IN ICONIC TIMES SQUARE TO ANNOUNCE APRIL 4 HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN AT THE O2 LONDON
Tue, 03 Feb 2026World Boxing appoints Tom Dielen as new Secretary General
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Sullivan Management signs 19-1 power-punching Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Another Grandeza in MMA is coming
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Gracie meets Zubiri in PH
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 02 Feb 2026