KO Couple Nonito & Rachel

December 3, 2010

“Filipino Flash” fights Saturday night

“The Filipino Flash” will be lighting up the ring this weekend in Southern California as Nonito Donaire Jr. (24-1, 16 KOs) will face Ukraine’s Wladimiro Sidorenko (22-2-2, 7 KOs) during the “In Harm’s Way” main event at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

After the original headliner Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. was waylaid by the flu bug, the popular Filipino fighter’s bout has now been bumped up as the co-headliner along with the Humberto Soto-Urbano Antillon fight featured on the PPV card promoted by Top Rank in association with Zanfer Promotions and Tecate. Fighting at 118, upon this victory against Sidorenko, Donaire will be set to battle Fernando Montiel in a highly-anticipated showdown on February 19.

At Wednesday’s final press conference at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, I had a chance to catch up with Nonito and his wife, Rachel Marcial Donaire. During a conversation with the Pinoy power couple, they spoke about Nonito rising to the top from his humble beginnings rooted in harsh poverty and the cruel taunts he received during childhood. We also chatted about the Donaires giving back to the community through boxing–and through Rachel’s exciting new foray into fashion and why the date of 11/11/11 is important to them!

If the Donaires are in the room, you can’t help but notice this striking pair. Stylishly dressed, this fun and fresh-faced duo are always cutting edge in fashion and look impeccable either on the red carpet or at boxing events. Although always color coordinated, Nonito says they do not plan their outfits together. “No,” he laughs. “I dress myself…And since I got dressed first so she must have copied me!” he adds, teasing Rachel of their well-coordinated fashion flair.

“I was doing my make-up and hair; I always take longer,” she counters, saying Nonito even lends an expert hand with applying her make-up. “He’s really good at it!” the gorgeous model and athlete says as I take note of her flawless complexion.

As I talk to the husband and wife team, I also can’t help but notice their unity together. With Rachel by his side, the Top Rank fighter is more animated, relaxed and at instant ease while we discuss all their exciting plans for the future. The boxer and his bride both share a creative vision; both are dedicated to inspiring and empowering others as the two stay true to their roots in remembering Nonito’s humble beginnings.

While the former IBF and IBO Flyweight Champ and WBA Super Flyweight titlist is now accustomed to six-figure paychecks, back in the day a simple thing like shoes were a luxury item for this little boy growing up in General Santos City, Philippines. If they appear decked out in the finest threads that money can buy these days, they will never forget where the champion came from–barefoot and poor caught in a hardscrabble existence.

“I didn’t have any shoes,” admits the likable boxer. “Sometimes we just wore slippers but we didn’t even have shoes.” His wife elaborates of the family’s poverty-stricken upbringing, “He took me back to the province where he grew up–and it’s still just dirt roads and no lights.”

When they see my reaction, Rachel tells me, “Yes, it’s true. He didn’t have shoes–and his shirts had holes in them. There were four kids in the family and they also had to ration food.” He goes on to say that at times he felt like a burden to his family. And adding to the dire conditions of his youth–Nonito reveals that as a child, he was severely teased and bullied because of a physical trait he had.

Rachel says, “When he was little, he had big ears. They called him ‘Dumbo’!”

As I carefully scrutinize his now normal-sized ears, Nonito explains, “When I was a baby I had these same size ears.”

“So you grew into your ears?” I ask the champ.

The couple laugh and agree. With a bittersweet smile, the two-time world champion recalls, “I was picked on and teased all the time–they really picked on me because of my ears.”

“When you look in the mirror now, do you still think they are oversized ears? Because they look normal to me…” I assure him.

He chuckles and states with a big grin, “I love them now; and I’m very comfortable with them now. They made me who I am!” Nonito even showcases his ears these days with double earrings adorning his lobes. The cruel teasing he endured as a boy only made him tougher as he fought for championship belts and pound-for-pound supremacy in the superstar stratosphere of the sweet science.

Nonito came from a boxing family. His father Nonito Donaire Sr. still coaches fighters and was a cornerman with Michael Katsidis in his bout against Juan Manuel Marquez and his brother Glenn also became a pro boxer. But the Filipino shining star remembers the heartache he went through while teased as a little boy–and is determined to give back and inspire other kids growing up poor just like he did.

“I really want to inspire them that there’s nothing in the world…That there’s nothing they CAN’T do,” the popular slugger–and role model–states with conviction and compassion. “With the Filipino kids, I want to inspire them to do their best. Manny was my role model–he’s the guy! And there were a lot of other guys too; Andre Ward got me back into boxing and the “Ghost,” Robert Guerrero too.”

The fan favorite is also a hero to others, especially in the San Leandro area of Northern California. “In San Carlos and San Mateo, where I grew up, there is such tremendous support!” he raves. “With Undisputed Gym and all the support, it’s been great.”

Midway through my visit with Rachel and Nonito, I am impressed with how in sync they are with each other. They finish each other’s sentences, tease each other with good-natured humor and share the same vision in their goals. And I also can’t help but point out they still act like newlyweds as I see them holding hands while we chat. “How long have you been married now?” I ask the cute couple. “It’s been two years!” they say in tandem. They got married on the auspicious date of 8/8/08 and will have a special ceremony next year–on 11/11/11.

“We got married in a beach wedding,” Mrs. Donaire says. “So next year we’re going to have a Catholic church wedding on November 11, 2011.”

With all of Nonito’s success inside the ropes, outside of the ring the Donaires have become a positive force in boxing–and beyond. The forward-thinking team are very passionate in improving the lives of others. For Rachel, she’s contributing to others through her new line of beautiful handbags. The couple tell me how the best-selling purse collection came to be. “He bought me a purse a while ago when we were dating–it was a wooden one,” Rachel remembers. “So she could whack me over the knee with it!” her hubby jokes.

The pugilist’s wife then says how much she loved the purse and first met with the company to become a spokesmodel, but eventually became part owner of Vera Coulture too. The company’s name is a combination of “culture and couture.” “The purses are all handcrafted, original and one-of-a-kind,” Rachel tells me. “They are also scratch resistant, you can add skins to the purses–and we offer both lower end and higher end purses.”

“Her purse line is very unique and very nice,” raves her husband.

The fashion dynamo also wants to give credit where credit is due. “The idea give all the credit to the Filipinos,” the businesswoman says. “We are building the U.S. market and global exposure–and bringing a new look too.” And near and dear to her heart, the company, founded by designer Rona Vera Cruz, is able to assist Filipino females in support of women empowerment, especially in impoverished regions. “We also want to encourage improvements in health and well-being and to help prevent domestic violence,” the petite beauty states. “And in education and with health bill matters, we want to help them in making the right decisions.”

And Vera Coulture is a thriving “green” company as well. “We are recycling and doing their part!” Rachel says proudly of the Philippines-based purse company. “For every purse made, a tree is planted so we are regrowing and recycling too.”

Not to be outdone by his wife and, who calls herself his “personal assistant,” Nonito also takes part in the creative field of photography. Usually the focus of shutterbugs, the boxer loves being behind the lens himself. “I enjoy that stuff; I shot the Mosley-Mora fight at ringside. It was really fun!” he says beaming. “It’s no joke; it’s hard work. The elbowing that goes on, we were sweating like dogs! It was an experience.”

Later on down the road after he hangs up gloves, I ask him, “Would you ever consider becoming a ringside photographer full time?

“Sure, why not? I really enjoy it!” he nods. “And it’s something I know, with the punches and the angles that help me to get the shots better because I’m a boxer.”

A professional prizefighter since 2001, Donaire now ranks among the cream of the crop on the canvas. Still just in his 20s, the two-division titlist continues his quest in achieving championship titles in various weight classes. And he’s looking forward to lacing up this Saturday night in front of a world-wide audience. Training camp has been going well, the couple says of their top-notch team that includes trainers Robert Garcia, Jonathan Penalosa, sports nutritionist Victor Conte, and manager Cameron Dunkin.

Coordinating the camp was no small feat with Garcia training Antonio Margarito and others down in Oxnard. But the former champ and current trainer was able to join Team Donaire up north. “We have the strength trainer at Undisputed; we have Victor Conte with the hypoxic training, monitoring and training; we have Jonathan keeping me in shape–so it’s impossible to move everyone around,” Nonito and Rachel comment. “We do our best and Robert recognizes that. We talk a lot on the phone too; we have a great arrangement that works out beautifully. Robert analyzes the game plan; he’s the strategist and brings the sparring. And now with Robert here, especially in the last few weeks, it’s going great.”

Donaire will go a scheduled 12 rounds with his Ukrainian opponent. While the original Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. bout was dropped, fans can still expect a night of great action. During the press conference, while at the mike, Nonito announced to the assembled crowd. “I’m in the best condition of my life,” the “Filipino Flash” said. “It’s still gonna be a spectacular fight with a lot of fireworks!”

The sparkplug boxer plans to showcase his speed and power this Saturday night as his native country cheers on another local boy done good.

Donaire may have come from nothing, but he has certainly propelled himself to be something–and someone, who along with his wife, is passionately committed to making a difference in the lives of others.

Tickets: www.ticketmaster.com or (800) 745-3000