DONAIRE MAKES IMPACT AT PHILIPPINE CONSULATE RECEPTION
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 20 Oct 2011
New York City Oct. 19- WBC/WBO world bantamweight champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire made an impact at a Philippine Consulate reception hosted by Consul General Mario Lopez de Leon Jr, on a rainy morning here today.
In welcoming Donaire, Consul General de Leon Jr said "we are really very proud of you Nonito. We find you an inspiration because of your track record in boxing as well as your continued success. Its an inspiration not only to the Filipinos and Filipino athletes in the Philippines but also to the Filipino-Americans especially those who are pursuing growth."
He said "we really look forward to your continued success in reaching greater heights as you face a formidable opponent on Saturday. I hope all of you will be supporting and rooting for Nonito Donaire who is also known as 'The Filipino Flash."
In his articulate and well-received response Donaire said he would do his best against undefeated two division world champion Omar Andres Narvaez saying "that is what you'll get with 'The Filipino Flash' which is to show pride of who I am as a Filipino fighter with all my heart with all the talent that God has given me and that's one thing you will see this Saturday... the heart of a true Filipino fighter and I'm hoping that I will entertain and most of all I will wave the flag with all my pride."
Consul General de Leon Jr presented Donaire with a coffee table book on Art at the Philippine Center which he said 'is here to promote Philippine art, culture and heritage."
In receiving the memento of his visit to the New York Consulate, Donaire said "as you know I love art. I do painting and sketching. I may not be as good as these guys but I will truly enjoy work of art from the Philippines and what the Philippines has to offer."
In a free-wheeling question and answer session among the Filipino-American media in particular Donaire said eating Filipino food like lechon "is out of my head because I've got to make weight" being a couple of pounds over the 118 pound limit.
Donaire said the fight against Narvaez would be his last as a bantamweight and he plans on moving up to super bantamweight for his next fight early in 2012.
He said "we have Jorge "Travieso" Arce from Mexico who is very talented and he's ready to go to war and he's one of the guys that I'm looking at and of course Toshiaki Nishioka who just defeated Rafael Marquez so there is a lot of excitement going on in the 122 division and a lot of challenges up ahead."
However, Donaire said "I don't want to look past the guy in front of us, Omar Narvaez."
Asked how he would rate himself among all-time Filipino boxing greats Donaire said "For me its not where I stand but its more of how I do in inspiring others because Manny Pacquiao, Flash Elorde, they all inspired me to be where I am at right now and I hope I can do the same with people. I am really bad when it comes to myself and putting myself in the pound for pound or putting myself in ratings with other fighters. All I know is they are great fighters and have done so much for our country . I'll leave it up to the people to decide where I'm at and wherever it may be I'm always blessed to know I'm part of history."
Oct. 19, 2011, New York, N.Y. --- World Bantamweight Champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire(2nd left) listens to The Honorable Mario Lopez de Leon, Jr. (L), Consul General of the Philippines along with Donaire's wife Rachel(2nd right) and his trainer Robert Garcia (R) during a reception at the Philippines Consulate in New York today. Photo by Chris Farina, Top Rank.
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