Hint of titles to come

It’s 11/11/11 today and the six 1s could be a hint of how many world boxing titles Nonito Donaire Jr. may end up with when the smoke of his battles finally clears – many years from now. So far, Donaire has won two crowns in different divisions – the flyweight and bantamweight classes. He was the interim superflyweight titlist for a year but never got a chance to win the legitimate 115-pound diadem.

Donaire, 28, is moving up to the superbantamweight class in his next outing. If he eventually lands in the lightweight division, that means Donaire could theoretically rack up four more titles – superbantamweight, featherweight, superfeatherweight and lightweight to bring his collection to six. That’s quite a feat considering no fighter has ever won seven and only one – Manny Pacquiao – has bagged eight.

Today is a special day for Donaire because his marriage to the love of his life, taekwondo standout Rachel Marcial, will be formalized in a church ceremony at Fernbrook Gardens, Portofino South, Daang Reyna, Las Piñas this afternoon. They were married in civil rites in Carmel, California, on Aug. 8, 2008 – 08/08/08 – and waited for the right day to book the church wedding on 11/11/11. The wedding invitation, in the form of a hard-cover, 8-page book, said, “For in everything, there is a perfect time, a reason, a chance.”

About 300 guests are expected to attend and some 30 have flown in from the US to witness the affair. The Donaires, close relatives and visiting friends will go on a tour of Bohol and Boracay after the wedding. Part of the celebration will be Donaire’s 29th birthday on Nov. 16.

The Donaires are keeping mum on their choice of wedding sponsors. The word is six couples were carefully chosen. Ilocos Sur Gov. Chavit Singson is rumored to be a sponsor and someone whispered that he’ll fly to Las Vegas for the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez fight either tonight or tomorrow morning. Former President Joseph Estrada is also rumored to be a sponsor. However, nobody is confirming anything – which makes for a Hollywood movie-like suspense.

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It’ll be a grand event with men advised to come strictly in black suits and women in red or black long gowns. Wedding organizer “Just Like Ours Events Management” gave this notice on the invitation as coming from the Donaires: “If you feel the need to give the gift that’s right, please keep it small to take on a flight; regardless of what choice you make, all we would like to say is to come along and have some fun on our special day.”

The reception will take on a Hollywood premier theme. The invitation itself has eight pages of photos showing the Donaires in Hollywood movie poster poses. One is a take-off on “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” the 2005 romantic action comedy film starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. The familiar “Hi ya, Stranger” and “Hi ya back” are quoted with the Donaires posing as high-class assassins. Another is a wanted poster showing the Donaires reprising the role of outlaws in the 1967 classic “Bonnie and Clyde” with the quote “You made me somebody they’re gonna remember.” Still another is the Donaires’ portrayal of Jack (Leonardo de Caprio) and Rose (Kate Winslet) in the 1997 movie “Titanic” with the famous line “Winning that ticket was the best thing that ever happened to me … it brought me to you.”

The Donaires’ final message in the wedding invitation is sweet, taken from the 2005 movie “Hitch” – “So how does it happen, great love? Nobody knows. It could happen in a blink of an eye. One moment, you’re enjoying your life. And the next, you’re wondering how you ever lived without them.”

The Donaires will be in town until Nov. 24, Thanksgiving Day. They’ll spend it here and in the US. Because you gain a day when you travel from the Philippines to the US, the Donaires will still catch up with other relatives in the US for Thanksgiving Day. Then a few days later, Donaire will report back to the gym to prepare for his next fight which could be as early as January.

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Top Rank chairman Bob Arum was quoted by writer Jack Hirsch in Boxing News (Oct. 27, 2011) as affirming that Donaire will figure in four fights next year. That’s music to Donaire’s ears. He wants nothing more than to stay busy and fatten up his bank account at the prime of his career.

Regarding Donaire’s recent shutout win over Omar Narvaez in what was described as a boring and dull fight, Arum said it didn’t adversely affect the Filipino Flash’s marketability one bit. “Does it reflect poorly on Manny Pacquiao that Shane Mosley did not want to fight him?” asked Arum. “It should not reflect poorly on Nonito either.”

As for Donaire, he said, “I tried my best but I am definitely disappointed … all he did was throw a jab and run, as much as I have respect for him, this is entertainment, he came here for a payday.”

Hirsch went out on a limb by proclaiming Donaire as a strong contender for the world’s No. 1 pound-for-pound recognition. “If we are to completely disregard past accomplishments and concentrate strictly on the here and now, then you could make a very strong case for Donaire being the best fighter in the world,” wrote Hirsch. “That status is currently reserved for Donaire’s fellow Filipino Manny Pacquiao and American Floyd Mayweather Jr. However, if we look at the others’ skill sets and their ability to dominate a contest compared to Donaire’s, can we conclude they are better than him? Maybe not. Donaire called his unanimous 12-round decision over Narvaez an off-night. Some off-night as the man from General Santos City swept all 12 rounds on the scorecards of judges Tom Schreck, Julie Lederman and Steve Weisfeld, garnering 120-108 margins.”