When
Nonito Donaire, Jr defeated Panama’s Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion on August 15,
2009, the now WBC bantamweight champion nicknamed “The Filipino Flash”
dedicated the fight to former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino. During the battle
with Concepcion, Donaire even donned a yellow robe, and yellow
trunks with “Aquino” printed on its back waistband.
The Donaire-Concepcion fight was for the interim WBA belt, and it happened in Las Vegas, where the pride of Tagbilaran, Bohol, won via unanimous decision.
By the way, before the Filipino Flash faced El Torito, there are announcements that Occidental Mindoro’s very own Drian Francisco would face the latter. Still, it did not happen for one reason or another. Concepcion then was ranked No. 4 by the WBA, No. 6 by the WBO, and No. 8 by the WBC, while Drian (Jong) Francisco was ranked No. 10, both by the WBA and WBO for the WBA International super flyweight title. As I have said, it did not materialize.
In his column, which appeared in Philstar.com dated August 22, 2009, Mr. Joaquin M. Henson, the so-called Dean of Philippine Sports, wrote that according to Cory and Ninoy’s daughter Pinky Aquino-Abellada, Donaire’s belt, robe, and trunks would be on display at the Aquino Center in the Hacienda Luisita in Tarlac. The family recreated Ninoy’s Fort Bonifacio detention cell and exhibited the clothes he wore during his assassination.
According to Henson, Nonito and his wife-manager Rachel presented the boxing apparels to the Aquino family in a mass to commemorate Ninoy’s assassination at the Roozen Hall of the Don Bosco complex in Makati. The scribe further wrote, “After the turnover, former President Cory’s daughter Ballsy Aquino-Cruz sprang a surprise when she announced the family is “adopting” Donaire as a “bunso” brother.” Of course, the Flash and his wife were overwhelmed and considered the gesture as a great honor. Rebecca or Kaye, Rachel’s mother, is from Tarlac.
Understandably, the Donaire’s supported Benigno Aquino III in his presidential bid in 2010.
In the fight against Hernan “Tyson” Marquez, Donaire again donned yellow
trunks with “Aquino” stitched onto the waistband. He presented the trunks to President PNoy after his win. Donaire KO’d Marquez in the 8th round in
a duel at the Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on November
14, 2010.
Former President Noynoy died just days after the official announcement of the Nonito Donaire-John Riel Casimero, the first-ever Filipino versus Filipino all champion encounter will happen in the States this coming August 14, 2021. Let us hope that unlike the Francisco-Concepcion bout, the Donaire-Casimero will not be aborted.
Yesterday, June 24, 2021, Nonito Donaire tweeted, “Ang pinaka malalim na pakikiramay at dasal sa Aquino family na nawalan ng pinakamamahal na kapatid na si Benigno Aquino III. Galing sa familia Donaire. Salamat po.”
Will Donaire wear yellow again in his fight against Casimero? That we do not know.
References:
https://www.philstar.com/sports/2009/08/22/497966/donaire-honored-aquino-family-too
https://www.wbaboxing.com/boxing-news/nonito-donaire-blasts-out-hernan-marquez-in-eight#.YNWKfOgzZPY
https://www.philstar.com/sports/2010/08/11/601352/donaire-and-road-ahead
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