DONAIRE IS NAMED ?FIGHTER OF THE YEAR? BY BOXING WRITERS ASSN. OF AMERICA
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 28 Jan 2013
Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire, the reigning WBO/Ring Magazine and WBC Diamond Belt super bantamweight champion has been named ?Fighter of the Year? by the prestigious Boxing Writers Association of America headed by its president Jack Hirsch.
The ?Fight of the Year? award went to the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez fourth showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena last December 8.
There?s no word as yet on the date and venue for the awards ceremony.
Marquez, his nose broken and face bloodied appeared on the verge of being knocked out when he nailed Pacquiao with a short, crunching right hand that sent Pacquiao crashing to the canvas face down and out cold.
The spectacular and stunning ending helped the Pacquiao-Marquez fight beat the October 13 slugfest between Brandon ?Bam Bam? Rios and Mile Alvarado for ?Fight of the Year? honors where the flyweight unification bout in which WBO champion Brian Viloria scored a spectacular 10th round TKO over Mexico?s WBA champion Hernan ?Tyson? Marquez last August 17 was also in contention.
Donaire who won the WBO 122 pound title with acomfortable win over Wilfredo Vazquez Jr of Puerto Rico at the Alamadome in San Antonio, Texas last February successfully defended the title three times beating IBF champiin Jeffrey Mathebula of South Africa and breaking his jaw in two places before scoring a 9th round TKO over Japan?s WBC super champion Toshiaki Nishioka and then dropping Mexico?s four division champion Jorge ?Travieso? Arce three times en route to a 3rd round knockout.
Also in the running for the accolade were Viloria, WBC/WBA super lightweight champion Danny Garcia, WBC welterweight champion Robert ?The Ghost? Guerrero and WBO junior welterweight champion Marquez.
Donaire told the Manila Standard he was ?deeply honored and humbled by the award? and thanked the Boxing Writers Association of America for the award which touched him at a significant moment in his career and his life.
Donaire and his wife Rachel are expecting their first child in June.
Donaire?s countryman and eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao had won the ?Fighter of the Year? award three times in 2006, 2008 and 2009.
The award is named after one of the all-time greats, Sugar Ray Robinson.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
WILDER 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 2026International Master Eric Labog Jr. rules FIDE rapid chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Mon, 02 Feb 202676ers star Paul George has been suspended for 25 NBA games by doping
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sun, 01 Feb 2026Fit To Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles
Sun, 01 Feb 2026Fit To Be Unified: Xander Zayas Defeats Abass Baraou To Unify Junior Middleweight World Titles
Sun, 01 Feb 2026Trazo beats Jabagat in Talisay
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 01 Feb 2026Into fights Sanchez on Feb. 9 at Villa Kristen
By Lito delos Reyes, Sun, 01 Feb 2026Teofimo Lopez vs Shakur Stevenson: Styles Make Fights Fitting Cliche
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 31 Jan 2026Bryan Flores Wins Majority Decision Over Starling Castillo in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’ at Live! Casino Hotel Maryland
Sat, 31 Jan 2026KinetixSports Legacy Run on March 1
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 31 Jan 2026THE RING 6: OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR TEOFIMO LOPEZ VS. SHAKUR STEVENSON
Sat, 31 Jan 2026