FROM JAPAN WITH LOVE
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 24 Oct 2012
There was a large contingent from Japan that flew to Los Angeles two weeks ago to lend support to their countryman and WBC Super Bantamweight ?emeritus? champ Toshiaki Nishioka. They number about a hundred strong and they were very visible during the weigh-in where they waved their flags proudly as their favorite fighter faced off against Nonito Donaire Jr. They arrived in one big tour bus the next day for the fight at the Home Depot Center in Carson, most of them with bandanas and head bands with Japanese inscriptions on it.
But not everyone who made that eleven hour long flight from Tokyo or Narita to LAX is a supporter of Nishioka. There were a number of them who are proud supporters of the Filipino star and one of them is Miyauchi Kazuaki.
Kazuaki who came from the city of Shimoneseki in the Yamaguchi prefecture, has been a fan of Donaire Jr. since 2007, this after watching him demolished then IBF Flyweight champ, Vic Darchinyan.
?Then I began to focus on his fights,? Kazuaki told me.
He then befriended Donaire Jr. through Facebook in 2009. And after a year of friendship through the popular social network, fan and star finally met a year after in Tokyo.
?I met (him) for the first time in September of 2010.I went to see (him) in Tokyo from Yamaguchi,? he narrated. ?He treat(ed) me very kindly. He was a very good person,? added the Japanese fan.
Kazuaki who admitted that he does not speak the English language fluently tried his best to be able to connect with the then 27 year old boxer. In order to communicate with his favorite athlete, Kazuaki gave Donaire Jr. a piece of paper where the boxer wrote his questions. Kazuaki would then consult his handy Japanese-English dictionary and answer him after translating Donaire Jr.?s query.
And after that meeting, Kazuaki formed the Nonito Donaire Jr. Japan Fan Club with a bunch of avid Japanese boxing fans after obtaining permission from the boxer himself. He has been the president of that fan club ever since its inception. Kazuaki also has been making stickers of the fan club and has been giving them not only to its members but to Donaire Jr.?s fans all over the world. He formed friendships with fellow fans of Donaire Jr. through Facebook and has mailed them stickers which he updates every time Donaire Jr. wins a belt or a title.
Kazuaki told me that he wanted to know other fans of Donaire Jr. from all parts of the world and has enjoyed meeting them in Facebook and in person. He told me that by sharing his stickers, he feels that he and other fans of Donaire Jr. ?become one.?
The avid fan of the sport has always loved and followed the sport of boxing and lists Thomas Hearns, Aaron Pryor, Japanese boxer Hozumi Hasegawa, Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao and Japan based Filipino fighter, Malcolm Tunacao as his all time favorites.
?But Nonito is the best!? he reiterated.
The 48 year old and his wife Sumiko flew to Los Angeles last summer to see Donaire Jr. square off against Jeffrey Mathebula at the Home Depot Center. It was not only the first time he saw his favorite boxer in a live match but is also his first trip overseas.
?L.A. in July was the first trip abroad. I'm afraid of airplanes. However, I do my best to see Nonito fight,? disclosed Kazuaki.
He made that trip again two weeks ago when Donaire Jr. fought against his countryman at the same venue.
?It was the best trip!? exclaimed Kazuaki. ?I was able to meet new friends. I was able to meet Nonito. I was able to meet Team Donaire and Nonito won!?
Kazuaki at first predicted that Donaire Jr. will knockout Nishioka in four rounds when this scribe met him in the morning of the fight. He even motioned to me how he thinks Donaire Jr.?s left hook will land on his Japanese counterpart during the bout. I asked him after the fight why he thought Nishioka lasted longer that he predicted.
?Because Nishioka did not fight, that is why the fight was prolonged,? replied Kazuaki. He said that the ?difference in speed and ability? was evident during the fight and that Donaire Jr. was the more superior boxer of the two.
The humble office worker from Japan is looking forward to attending more fights of his favorite boxer, even if that requires him facing his fear of flying. One of his ardent wish is for Donaire to win seven titles in seven weight classes.
?I want to fill in the sticker which I make with seven classes of conquest,? said Kazuaki.
?I also wish that he will fight in Japan. Nonito is loved by the Japanese. We will support him.?
Miyauchi Kazuaki is an example of how the Sweet Science can overcome the difference in nationality, language, culture and even the fear of flying in bringing out the truest of fan.
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com for any reactions to this piece.
Photo: Miyauchi & Sumiko Kazuaki pose with Donaire during their LA trip.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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