‘Comeback Kid’ si Donaire
TINIYAK ni dating five-division world champion Nonito Donaire Jr. na muli siyang mapapansin ng boxing fans nang dominahan ang mas batang si Ruben Garcia Hernandez ng Mexico para matamo ang bakanteng WBC Silver featherweight title kahapon sa Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas sa Estados Unidos.
Sa kanyang unang laban sa ilalim ng bagong promoter na si Richard Schaefer ng Ringstar Sports, ipinakita ng boksingerong Pilipino na kaya pa niyang magbalik bilang world champion matapos matalo sa kontrobersiyal na 12-round unanimous decision sa dating ka-stable niya sa Top Rank na si American Mexican Jessie Magdaleno.
“I boxed very well, which is something I haven’t done in a long time. I moved my legs well and maintained it throughout the whole fight,” sabi ni Donaire sa BoxingScene.com. “I’ve always been an aggressive boxer but this time i used my jab and combinations. I had the urge to just brawl and I felt like I hurt him. But ultimately I did a great job showing versatility in my game.”
“I’ll go look at this fight and see what I should have done to improve. It’s great to get the victory and get a great learning experience under my belt,” dagdag ni Donaire na nagwagi sa mga iskor na 100-90, 97-93, 99-91. “It’s a great pleasure to be part of the Ringstar Sports family. I’m grateful for this opportunity and I know there is more to come. I’m going to get back in there and keep showing what I can do.”
Aminado naman si Hernandez na natalo siya kay Donaire na nakuntentong dominahan siya sa ibabaw ng ring.
“Nonito was very smooth and moved around well. I couldn’t get to him because of that. He adjusted to everything I did. It was a fair decision at the end of the night,” sabi ni Hernandez.
“I thought he was going to come to brawl but he changed the strategy on me,” diin ni Hernandez. “I thought I fought hard and I’m going to work hard to get back in the ring.”
Napaganda ni Donaire ang kanyang rekord sa 38-4-0, na may 24 panalo sa knockouts samantalang bumagsak ang kartada ni Hernandez sa 22-3-1 na may 9 pagwawagi sa knockouts.