After stopping an unranked foe, a punching bag if you please, former boxing superstar Nonito Donaire Jr. erupted like the great winner of old. He readily called out the name of the Cuban phenom who had beaten him to signal his slide to doom.
Donaire said he wanted Guillermo Rigondeaux, who conquered him in 2013 to win the WBO world super bantamweight championship.
“We are back at the elite level, and ready to compete with him (Rigondeaux),” Donaire exclaimed in the post-fight press conference inside the joyous Smart Araneta Coliseum Saturday evening.
He also mentioned the name of the unbeaten Leo Sta. Cruz, reigning WBC super bantamweight ruler.
* * *
Donaire disposed of Brazilian William Prado, whom he bombarded mercilessly until referee Bruce McTavish stopped the mismatch shortly before the end of the second round.
No doubt Donaire, a five-division world boxing title winner, felt super although he would later admit he was at best only 70 percent of his old self.
There was the main event, won in even fashion by Donnie Nietes for a successful defense of his WBO light flyweight crown via TKO over an awkward former world champion from Mexico.
There was the neat mix of sweet science and savagery as Nietes made a classy display of composed and methodical combat.
* * *
Donaire, however, delivered the bigger thrill for a big crowd which went home gratified.
It was a good theater, served hot by ALA Promotions which was founded by respected Cebu sportsman Antonio L. Aldeguer and now run by his tireless son, Michael.
The promotion, Pinoy Pride 30: Demolition Day, goes down as a gem for Tony Aldeguer and his go-go outfit.
Donaire, for his part, had more than a couple of reasons to be overjoyed.
After having had to shed six pounds in two days, he still delivered a performance that could equal some of his finest fights during his prime, when he ruled as Fighter of the Year in 2013.
* * *
The big statement: Donaire is back in one piece after the ignominious dismantling he suffered in the hands of Jamaican Nicholas Walters in a world featherweight title unification last October.
He definitely savored the adulation from a throng of hometown fans that welcomed the Filipino Flash back into their arms.
Anyway, this is not to say that there were those who went home dissatisfied. But out there in the streets, there were claims of a tasteless mismatch the day after the bouts were replayed on free television.
One pundit went as far as to swear it could not be a gauge of how solidly Donaire has recovered from the bludgeoning knockout in the hands of the Jamaican Axe Man five months ago.
There were cries Donaire deserved to be served somebody worthier than a human punching bag.
* * *
(D-DAY: One picture that stood out in Pinoy Pride 30 was the close-up of the Mexican challenger to Donnie Nietes, cross-eyed, his face jarred, after taking a knockout shot. The moment of what boxing is all about was captured by Wendell Alinea, son of veteran scribe Eddie Alinea, who now works with Team Pacquiao. The masterful frame, sure winner in any photography contest, was posted at philboxing.com yesterday. The picture perfectly captured the theme of the event: Demolition Day … Engineer Ben Lugares, a quiet and noted son of Mandaluyong, celebrates another year in his life with a beer party in their frontyard at Barangay Lote-Lote, Mandaluyong City this afternoon. Keep the good times rolling, Sir.)