Donaire vows to hand opponent first defeat

source: gmanews.tv

Unified bantamweight champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire Jr. is raring to hand undefeated Argentine challenger Omar Narvaez his first defeat when they square off Sunday (in Manila) at the Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Donaire, the reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) 118-pound titlist, made the vow in a press briefing last Wednesday when he visited Philippine Consulate General Mario De Leon Jr. at the Philippine Center in New York City, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

The DFA said Donaire and his trainer Robert Garcia declined to make any predictions about the outcome of the fight but said that his ward will take any opportunity to knock out Narvaez.

Donaire said he was fighting for the Philippines, his team and his family, and hopes to continue to inspire and encourage young people to pursue sports.

He said his humble beginnings in Bohol have taught him the value of hard work and perseverance in the highly competitive and physically demanding sport of boxing.

With him were wife Rachel and trainer Garcia, and other members of his team.

The last Filipino boxer who had a boxing match at Madison Square Garden was the legendary Gabriel "Flash" Elorde, who fought Puerto Rican Frankie Narvaez in 1966.

Donaire is also the fourth-ranked boxer in The Ring Magazine's pound-for-pound list.

Meanwhile, De Leon said Donaire "serves as an inspiration not only for aspiring boxers in the Philippines but also for Filipino-American athletes working to make their mark in the United States."

source: gmanews.tv