Donaire contemplated retirement, talks comeback, Rigondeaux, HBO

Donaire contemplated retirement, talks comeback, Rigondeaux, HBO
Mark E. Ortega
RingTV.com
July 16, 2013


You wouldn't have guessed it based on the fact that it was easily the most important year of his professional career, but Nonito Donaire was at one point contemplating retirement during 2012. Last year, Donaire fought four times on the way to earning Fighter of the Year honors from the Boxing Writers Assoc. of America.

"Honestly, after the [Toshiaki] Nishioka fight, I was really thinking about retiring," Donaire told RingTV.com on Friday as he took in ESPN2's Friday Night Fights in Las Vegas.

"I felt like I had accomplished everything I set out to. I had won titles in multiple divisions, had made it onto pound-for-pound lists. I was ready to quit, and then I got the [Jorge] Arce fight [in December] and just decided to get back in the gym."

During 2012, Donaire conquered the 122-pound division, and his four-fight year was a rarity for a top fighter.

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NorCal's Donaire eager to add to résumé

NorCal's Donaire eager to add to résumé

Mark E. Ortega

Martinez News-Gazette

October 18, 2013

CARSON, Calif.--Saturday night at the Home Depot Center, San Leandro's Nonito Donaire added another respectable name to his résumé as he stopped the durable Toshiaki Nishioka of Tokyo, Japan in the 9th round of their HBO televised junior featherweight title fight in front of more than 7,500 fans.

Donaire became the recognized #1 fighter in the division with the victory, though many boxing fans are now hopeful he meets fellow Top Rank promoted fighter Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba at some point in the near future. Signs point towards Donaire instead fighting the well-traveled Mexican Jorge Arce, who is years past his best, but would no doubt make it a fight for as long as it lasts.

Nonito Donaire gears up for Toshiaki Nishioka

Nonito Donaire gears up for Toshiaki Nishioka
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
August 24, 2012


Last Friday at the O.co Coliseum in Oakland, Nonito Donaire fired a pitch high but over the plate on Filipino Heritage Night prior to the hometown Athletics' game with the Cleveland Indians.

TQBR spoke to Donaire as he left the field on a variety of topics surrounding his compelling Oct. 13 HBO-televised scrap with longtime junior featherweight force Toshiaki Nishioka in Carson, Calif. at the Home Depot Center.

“It is very exciting for me,” Donaire said. “Like Nishioka said, it is not about the titles, it is not about anything, it is about fighting that guy. I believe that I have a lot to prove with Nishioka and we have great respect for each other. "

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Top Ten from the outer realm

Top Ten from the Outer Realm

Mark E. Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com

June 20, 2011

I've always been one to criticize pound-for-pound lists, as they are as egregious as they are subjective. Lists of any sort are, matter of fact. But here I am putting together a Top Ten of my own, one that features a list of ten pugilists, mostly from outside the United States that have yet to appear on HBO or Showtime television in any format. These are ten fighters I feel that should be taken a close look at by both networks, if not just for tomorrow but for beyond.