MANILA, Philippines – Four-division champion Nonito Donaire Jr. was again recognized for his remarkable run in the super bantamweight division in 2012.
The “Filipino Flash” is Yahoo! Sports’ top choice for the 2012 Fight of the Year award, besting other boxers who stamped their classes in their respective weight classes.
“He showed the complete package, using speed, power, accuracy, ring generalship, defense and courage to post decision wins over Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. and Jeffrey Mathebula and stoppages over Toshiaki Nishioka and Jorge Arce,” said Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole in hiscolumn.
Donaire was earlier given the same recognition by The RING Magazine, ESPN and Sports Illustrated.
Iole also cited Donaire’s effort to clean up the sport of boxing, which was recently plagued by performance enhancing drugs (PED) use.
He is the first boxer to volunteer for a 24/7 random drug testing
“Significantly, Donaire did his job as a clean athlete. He enrolled in the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association program and was subject to random blood and urine testing 24/7/365,” said Iole.
“He was the epitome of a champion and is a deserving recipient of the 2012 Yahoo! Sports Fighter of the Year award.”
Other boxers who were considered for the honor were Juan Manuel Marquez, Robert Guerrero, Andre Ward, Leo Santa Cruz, Carl Froch, Danny Garcia, Adrien Boner and Donaire’s fellow Filipino Brian Viloria.
Previous winners of the award include Ward (2011), Sergio Martinez (2010), Manny Pacquiao (2008 and 2009) and Miguel Cotto (2007).
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