Donaire: It wasn’t my win, it was the country’s

Nonito Donaire Jr. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Nonito Donaire Jr.’s sensational ninth-round stoppage of Vic Darchinyan in a 10-round rematch on Sunday came as a shot in the arm for the morale of the storm-devastated country.

Donaire took time to thank his fellow countrymen for the support even as the Filipinos, particularly those in Eastern Visayas, are still reeling from devastation brought by monster typhoon “Yolanda.”

“It wasn’t my win tonight, it was the Philippines’ win,” Donaire said on Twitter a few hours after the fight held at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. “We are strong and we have faith.”

“Thank you to the Archangels and especially all the fans and Filipinos who watched despite the typhoon.”

Donaire fought Darchinyan, who he likewise floored six years ago in a fight which catapulted the Filipino boxer to stardom, again in a non-title grudge match with fans expecting no less than a knockout.

And Donaire delivered that in the 2:06 mark of the penultimate round with his lethal left hook, but not before absorbing blows from the 37-year-old Darchinyan, especially in the middle rounds.

The 30-year-old Donaire said in his tweet that he will have his cheek scanned for any fractures.

“Thank you, Lord, for keeping me safe, giving me a sound mind, helping me see what needed to be done,” he said.

“I have a lot of work still to do but first I need to get the cheek x-rayed for fracture and rest.”

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