About Nonito Donaire Jr

Nonito Donaire, Jr. (born on November 16, 1982) is a Filipino American professional boxer. He is a three-division world champion, where he won five world titles in three different boxing weight classes. He is a known switch-hitter with the ability to fight either southpaw or orthodox.His surname is often mispronounced as do-nayr but it's properly pronounced as do-nigh-reh.

Currently, Donaire is the WBC and WBO Bantamweight World Champion. He is also currently rated by The Ring as the number three pound-for-pound boxer in the world. He is the former WBA Super Flyweight Interim World Champion, IBF World Flyweight Champion and IBO World Flyweight Champion.

Personal life

Donaire was born in Talibon, Bohol and grew up in General Santos City, South Cotabato. It was in General Santos where Donaire would go to the same school as boxing icon eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao.His father Nonito Sr., a second year high school dropout, was in the Philippine Army for eight years and fought as an amateur before trying his luck alone in the US in 1990. In 1993, he had joined his father in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California.

During their younger years, Donaire and his older brother Glenn would spar, with the younger brother being beaten often. As a kid, Donaire watched videos of his hero Alexis Argüello, using them to learn how to throw his powerful left hook.While in San Lorenzo High School in San Lorenzo, California the brothers won an assortment of regional and district amateur boxing championships.His cousin, Richard Donaire, is also a professional boxer.
Donaire was married to Rachel Marcial, a Filipino-American USA National Collegiate and Military Taekwando Champion.They were married on August 8, 2008 in a private ceremony in Carmel, California, with all their close relatives

Amateur career

As a young American amateur, Donaire won three national championships: the National Silver Gloves in 1998, National Junior Olympics in 1999, and the National USA Tournament in 2000. He also won the International Junior Olympics in 1999.Donaire's amateur record was 68-8 with 5 TKOs.

Professional career

Donaire turned professional with his brother in 2001. They signed up with promoter Jackie Kallen, who paid the boys a monthly salary of $1,500 each. After four pro bouts, among which he lost his second, Donaire and his brother Glenn left Kallen and returned to Manila with their father. Initially mulling restarting their boxing careers in the Philippines, they decided to go back to the better facilities in San Leandro, where their father felt there were fewer distractions.