Filipino world flyweight champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire (21-1, 14 KOs) knows that his growing legion of boxing fans -- and many in the sport -- view him as the next Manny Pacquaio.
To that end, Donaire recalls the tension he felt April 19 inside a packed Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines. Those nerves were not because he was preparing to fight previously undefeated Raul Martinez (24-1) of San Antonio for an IBF title defense.
Donaire, 26, who moved to California from the Philippines at age 10, also is a devoted student of boxing history. Araneta Coliseum gained fame as the site of the third and final match between heavyweights Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1975, the "Thrilla in Manila," and Donaire was nearly overwhelmed by the experience and pressure of fighting there.
"The place was filled and the fans were chanting, just wanting to know if I was a bust, or if I was one of those guys who would bring glory to Filipino boxing,'' Donaire told FanHouse.
"It was so big for me, I couldn't sweat before the fight. I couldn't even break a sweat. That was the first time ever [fighting in metro Manila]. Shadow boxing couldn't break a sweat for me,'' he says.
"But the moment I got into the ring, I knew exactly what to do. The minute I got into the ring, the pressure would either take me down or push me to something great. I'm glad it pushed me to a different level."
Donaire quickly scored two knockdowns in the first round -- four overall -- and won a fourth-round TKO over Martinez. The victory was an impressive follow-up performance to his celebrated 2007 one-punch, left-hook knockout of previously undefeated defending champion Vic Darchinyan.
All this has pushed Donaire toward greater stardom. He is now one of the prized fighters for Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, along with his superstar countryman Pacquiao.
The comparisons to Pacquaio bring enormous expectations, as well as a sense of pride.
"It's big pressure, when I think about it,'' Donaire concedes, "and there are times when I feel I can't push myself anymore, when it all gets to me, the expectations that everyone has. When they're calling me the next Manny Pacquiao, that truly keeps me going. I don't want to let anyone down.
"It pushes me and inspires me to do my best and to keep looking forward, like Manny Pacquiao does. We want to make the Filipino people proud."
Donaire will be the main event on the Aug. 15 "Pinoy Power 2" pay-per-view card at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, battling Rafael "El Torito" Concepcion (13-3-1, 8 KOs) in a 12-round bout.
Donaire is moving up to 115 pounds for this next challenge, which shouldn't be much of a problem for a fast, powerful puncher who already has won four world championship fights by knockout.
"I think I can carry that same power at 115, 118 pounds," says the 5-foot-6 inch Donaire, who typically bulks up 20 pounds or more after weigh-ins. "I grow,'' he says with a laugh. "I have reached 140 before. But I want to be at least 125 when I go into that ring with Concepcion. Not too big, not too small. I want to have speed against his strength."
In this sense, Donaire is like Pacquaio, 30, who has steadily packed on weight and muscle as he has collected five world titles in five weight divisions.
The smaller Concepcion -- who is 5-foot-4 on a good day -- is a fill-in opponent for this Top Rank-promoted PPV event, after Arum's negotiations with Hugo Cazares and Jose Lopez fell through. Many in boxing expect him to be a speed bump for Donaire. Concepcion, known for his ability to take a punch, managed to get to 115 pounds for his Sept. 15, 2008, fight against Jorge Arce, but retired in the ninth round of the scheduled 12-rounder.
"I don't take him for granted, or anyone who steps into the ring. I have nothing but respect for my opponent because of what we go through in training, the heart it takes to get in that ring,'' Donaire says.
He's no trash talker. "I'm no good at it,'' he says, laughing. "The only thing I'm good at is complimenting people."
Donaire also is a star on EA Sports' Fight Night 4 video game, where he takes on Arce. And he reaches out to his fans on his Web site, www.filipinoflash.com, which contains video of his bouts and photo albums of himself and his popular Filipina-American wife, Rachel Marcial Donaire. They blog about their lives with regular "Keeping Up With the Donaires" entries.
The two are a good pair. Marcial Donaire, a one-time child model, earned her black belt in Taekwondo at age 14. She keeps her husband grounded and they often train together at the sparkling clean Undisputed Boxing Gym in San Carlos, Calif., and run hills that snake along the hilltops at nearby College of San Mateo.
"She's tougher than me,'' Donaire says. "She can take more punishment than I can."
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