What next for the Filipino Flash?

When Nonito Donaire was chopped down by the “Axe Man” Nicholas Walters of Jamaica in the sixth round and lost his WBA featherweight super champion title, in the process suffering the first knockout of an amazing career, the obvious question was, “What now, Nonito?”

Respected boxing writer Kieran Mulvaney suggested the crushing loss may mark the end of Donaire’s career but his father/trainer Nonito “Dodong” Donaire Sr. quickly doused speculation that the brutal defeat meant the end of the road.

He told Yahoo Philippines that they had discussed the options and decided Nonito would go down to the super bantamweight (122 pounds) division where he had his finest moments or may even consider dropping down to bantamweight (118 pounds) which at Nonito’s age – 31 – may be a tough ask since he has in the past battled to make weight.

Donaire Sr. admitted that perhaps his son had  moved up too quickly to featherweight and hadn’t really tested himself at that weight and when he faced Walters he realized that the Jamaican regular champion was “too big and too strong.”

Most boxing media believe that Donaire “didn’t need to take on Walters” especially after the way he annihilated aging Vic Darchinyan who had given Donaire a tough fight and was leading at the end of eight rounds before “The Filipino Flash” summoned his energies in one last surge and dropped the Aussie with his patented left hook in Round 9 to win by a TKO.

It was the same  left hook that worked well for Donaire in the first two rounds against Walters with his superior hand speed and footwork setting up a nifty left hook that buckled the knees of Walters and sent him reeling back in the final seconds of the second round.

There was indeed the possibility that if the bell hadn’t cut short that explosive burst, the ending could have been different.

However, Walters made it clear that when he went back to his corner his handlers were concerned but that he asked them to calm down because he wasn’t badly hurt although he admitted later that Donaire “caught me with a couple of good shots and he has good power also.”

Donaire’s father/trainer relived that moment and said it was clear Walters “could handle Nonito’s power.”

He felt the problem was that when Donaire hurt Walters “he went crazy to try and take him out” which was evident as he began to exchange with the heavy-handed Jamaican, turning the fight at crucial times into a slugfest.

Donaire could afford to do that with fighters like former bantamweight champion Fernando “Cochulito” Montiel, Japan’s super bantamweight super champion Toshiaki Nishioka and Mexico’s Jorge “Travieso”  Arce because as his father/trainer pointed out “it was easy because he still had the power at that weight” but against Walters it was folly.

The turning point came in Round 3 which Donaire appeared to be winning before a short, wicked right uppercut dropped Donaire and although he quickly got up and engaged Walters in a furious exchange towards the end of the round, the knockdown had left an indelible impression in Donaire’s mind that indeed Walters could hurt him.

Walters grew in confidence while Donaire appeared bothered and as the “Axe Man” continued to bludgeon Donaire with thundering right hands, blood began streaming from a cut over Nonito’s right eyebrow which was caused by an accidental clash of heads while a second cut was opened above his left eye as Walters targeted the cuts with a rapier-like jab.

Despite his father’s instructions to stay outside and try to box his way out of trouble Donaire, bothered by cuts above both eyes and a rapidly swelling right eye turned desperate and swung at Walters with everything he had which resulted in the sudden and shocking ending.

As Walters himself recalled later, Donaire threw a left hook from a distance and Walters, very smartly, leaned back and avoided the punch and immediately cracked Donaire with a thunderous right that caught Nonito high up on the left side of the head and sent him crashing to the canvas face down.

Referee Raul Caiz Jr embraced Donaire as he attempted to beat the count and stopped the bout at 2:59 of the sixth round.

Donaire Sr. commended the referee “for a good decision” telling Yahoo Philippines that he himself was ready to jump into the ring to stop the fight because if it went on, “Nonito would get hurt.”

He praised his son who he said “fought with all of his heart. He didn’t need this fight but he took it and did his best.”

Both fighters were gracious and at the end of the fight set an example for others to follow.

Walters praised Donaire as “a super, super boxer, and a great champion,” but correctly pointed out “I was bigger, younger, quicker, stronger, and more intelligent.”

Donaire made no excuses and took nothing away from the Jamaican beast. He said Walters “overwhelmed me and knocked the sh— out of me. He's an amazing guy.  I was at my best. I never trained this hard.  I knew the power that he had inside the ring. The size he had over me, I couldn't even move.”

Pressed as to what his plans for the future are, Donaire indicated, “I have to go back to the drawing board.  I can't compete with a guy like Walters.”

Donaire had 10 stitches to close the cuts on either side and said he was “fine.” He then went over to the dressing room of Walters to congratulate him once again and to exchange pleasant banter. His innate class was evident.

For the first time in a career that has thrilled Filipino boxing fans and fight fans and the media in the US, Donaire was battered and bloodied and for the very first time he was knocked out with Walters fulfilling his promise to win by knockout in five or six rounds.

Donaire himself had predicted that the fight would end in a knockout. Little did he realize that he would be the fighter at the receiving end.

Nonito and his dad firmly believe there are some good years left in him and he could be a champion once again.

Even President Aquino’s Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr expressed confidence that despite being knocked out Sunday  Donaire will stage a comeback soon.

Coloma said “knowing him to be a highly determined and resilient fighter, we are confident he will soon return to the comeback trail and regain a boxing championship” even as he admitted that Donaire “fought well but lost to a better fighter, Nicholas Walters.”

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum will soon have to sit down and discuss Donaire’s future with whoever is handling him , now that the contract of manager Cameron Dunkin was reportedly not renewed.

Arum said “it was a good fight. It was a great fight. The Jamaican guy is one hell of a fighter.”

The man who knows it best is Nonito Donaire to whom Nicholas Walters “is simply amazing.”