Nonito ‘Filipino Flash’ Donaire shows the bloody wraps while his trainer takes off his gloves. The Philippine flag flies proudly behind them.

Written by

Jude Thaddeus L. Bautista

A screenwriter could not have thought of a more dramatic script for a film. “Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire injured his left fist while winning his 4^th division title the WBO super Bantamweight belt. Donaire dominated the early rounds and Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. proved to be a more than worthy opponent. It was the reach and superior speed that allowed Nonito to score early. By the third round he staggered Vazquez in the dying seconds with a combination of a left upper cut and a left hook. The ropes saved Vazquez from completely falling to the canvas.

View from the top as Donaire and Vazquez meet in the middle of the ring.

Nonito pushes Vazquez into a corner and staggers him in the 3rd round.

PDI’s Marc Anthony Reyes in his front-page story surmises the fist was broken between the second and fourth rounds. Vazquez started to catch up with accurate jabs and a right cross from round 4-6. And it had begun to turn the tide for Vazquez. An early swelling on the right eye of Donaire seemed to get redder.

Donaire's right eye swelled, in spite of him dominating early in the fight.

Vazquez was also beginning to close the distance landing stronger blows on the inside. Boxing analyst Col. Bob Sheridan noticed that Flash was letting his left hand ‘drop’, or keeping it low too much. This was the opening that allowed the right cross from Vazquez to repeatedly land. Strategically it was a way for Donaire to bait Vazquez to coming in and landing a hard right hook. But because of it Vazquez seemed to be out boxing his opponent until the 8^th round.

The Mexican singer who sang their national anthem was Ramon Fernandez. Yes, tukayo of the PBA legend Ramon 'El Presidente' Fernandez.

The incredible thing was that he still used the left to land quite a few heavy blows. And didn’t’ show any real indication that it was hurt. Vazquez was closing in point wise gaining round after round until round 9. Flash came out with a sneaky right hand followed by a left uppercut and left hook which knocked down Vazquez.

The knockdown sequence, the flash winds up an uppercut which lands flush and sends Vazquez tumbling down the canvas.

Ironic that he fell at the SMART logo on the canvas, the only Filipino company to advertise right in the ring. The only other logos were TECATE which is Mexican and Bob Arum’s Top Rank.

Vazquez plants his face on the SMART logo the only Filipino company to advertise right in the ring. Referee Rafael Ramos helps him up and gives him the ten count.

Vazquez is given the standing ten count after the knockdown.

Vazquez, a Puerto Rican, enters the arena waving a Mexican flag.

Vazquez who is Puerto Rican came in the ring of the filled Alamodome carrying a Mexican flag. He is also the son of former 3 Division World champ Wilfredo Vazquez Sr. Carrying the flag was an obvious effort to try and court the support of the predominantly Mexican audience in, San Antonio Texas. And it worked, the crowd cheered every time Nonito was in trouble. Countryman and Fighter of the Decade Pacman Pacquiao has gotten their ire as the “Mexicutioner,” defeating ALL of their recently retired and active hall of fame fighters from Dela Hoya, Barrera, Marquez to name just a few. If they can’t beat Manny, Nonito was the next best target.

The pretty Rachel Donaire at ringside watching her husband overcome pain to win the fight.

Vazquez tries to come back in the dying seconds of the final round with a furious exchange.

After the knockdown, Vazquez could no longer overcome the lead. In the dying seconds of the 12^th and final round, the two exchanged punches. Vazquez was trying to catch up trying to knock out and Flash was right there toe to toe giving him everything he’s got. By this time it’s 100% sure that Nonito had ALREADY known that he injured or broken several bones on his left fist. It never fails to amaze me how fighters can go on fighting with incredible pain and injuries WITHIN a fight.  Sometimes their courage is to their own detriment.

Nonito shows 4 fingers for his fourth division title.

In all scorecards with sports analysts Bob Sheridan and Raul ‘El De Monte’ Marquez it was an overwhelming lead 117-110 and 116-110 respectively. And yet one judge Ruben Garcia gave a score of 115-112 for Vazquez. Thankfully the two other official judges saw it differently.

Fighters make up after all is said and done.

Blood oozes out of the wraps after knuckles were broken.

Heroism inside and outside the Ring

Courage can at times be detrimental to a fighter. Such was the case with Karlo Maquinto who died after being in a coma for five days. His death came less than a week from Donaire’s victory and hand injury. He collapsed after coming back from two knockdowns from Mark Joseph Costa. Maquinto got up to win the succeeding rounds enough to convince judges to declare the fight a draw. Seconds after the two fighters hands were raised by the ref he collapsed.

Vazquez tries to laugh after getting dropped.

GMA network aired the footage on primetime news. According to the news telecast Karlo’s sister in Ilo-ilo had not seen him for over two years since he arrived in Manila to train as a boxer. Manila Bulletin sports writer Nick Giongco reported on the incident. His article also had a comprehensive list of Pinoy boxers who lost their lives the past twenty years. Giongco’s article detailed both local and international fights:

“Before Maquinto’s passing, the last Filipino fighter to die of head injuries was Lito Sisnorio, who succumbed in Bangkok in April 2007 after being knocked out by former world champion Chatchai Sasakul. Since the 1980s, there have been a number of ring fatalities involving Filipino boxers here and abroad. In 1982, flyweight prospect Andy Balaba died days after being stopped by Shin Hi Sup in Seoul.

The last twenty years, among the ring-related deaths recorded were those of Macky Silvano, Roger Espinelli, Eugene Barutag, Mateo Baring, Eman Juarez, Ferdie Gimay and Maruel Zayas.”

Boxers risk their lives every time they step up the ring. You realize the heroism of our fighters, knowing the dangers they face. They do it fully conscious of the physical damage that they will suffer, win or lose. It’s reminiscent of our OFWS who go into countries specifically banned by the DFA as danger zones. They’d risk their lives in order to provide a better future for their families.

This is Donaire's hand underneath the wraps. Photo is from facebook fansite. Click on photo for link to facebook fansite for updates and pics straight from the Flash himself!

Our armed forces who put themselves in conflict is also a somewhat similar situation. The difference with our fighters there’s only an army of one, once they climb up the ring. BOTH Pacquiao and Donaire are especially at risk simply because of the level of competition. They face not only the most powerful but also the most skilled boxers in the world. True boxing fans know and appreciate this.

Even when they completely survive their careers, boxers sustain long-term physical damage. Noses are flattened, orbital bones, cheekbones become thicker after receiving hundreds of punches from each fight. Both Freddie Roach and Mohammed Ali suffer from neural disorders but the relation to head injuries has not been established medically. But it doesn’t take a doctor to figure out the damages sustained when the brain is rattled inside the skull after a heavy blow. As detailed in Giongco’s article since the 1980’s, the maximum rounds in a boxing match has been reduced from 15 to 12 in order to reduce the damage sustained in a fight.

Vazquez gets his swelling treated.

Recah Trinidad in an article for boxing.com lambasted organizers of Karlo Maquinto’s fight for being ill prepared when a grave injury is sustained in a fight.  The sport is really dangerous enough. Both Recah Trinidad and another great sports columnist, Quinito Henson have noticed that organizers did not pay enough attention to putting together the proper medical emergency equipment and personnel that may have saved the life of Maquinto. A detailed investigation of what really happened should be made to prevent future deaths in the ring. Another issue that cropped up is the lack of any form of health and life insurance for fighters.

Manny prays each time before each fight not just for his own safety but also for his opponent. No one wants our boxers to be in such dire straits in the same way no one wants our family members to have to leave the country just to earn a living. No soldier should have to lose his life or even take the life of someone else in conflict. But all of these things happen. Are any of these people any less of a hero? Not in my mind.

Donaire is bloodied but unbowed after the fight.