Donaire battled depression after painful loss to Walters

Nonito Donaire Jr., shows his readiness for this Saturday’s title defense against Hungarian Zolt Bedak in a public workout at the Robinsons Galleria Cebu. (Philboxing)

His fans may not know it, but five-division world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. suffered fits of depression after that humiliating knock out loss to Nicolas Walters two years ago.

For months after that devastating loss in the U.S. for the WBA super world featherweight title, Donaire lost discipline and ate a lot, his wife Rachel told Cebuano media in the sidelines of last Saturday’s press conference at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Good thing for him, his wife and father, Nonito Sr., never left his side, guiding and motivating him to bounce back from that massive setback.
According to Rachel, Donaire Jr. was an emotional junk at that time.

“I guided him physically and spiritually. After his loss to Walters, he lost discipline. He ate a lot and was very depressed so I never left his side,” revealed Rachel.

Thankfully, Rachell added, Nonito earned a new-found motivation to re-acquire his lofty status in the boxing universe.

Donaire Jr. himself admitted that he lost focus and interest in boxing during those turbulent times proceeding the Walters fight and that all he did was eat. “I admit, I have a weakness when it comes to food. Thankfully, Rachel was always there until I learned to discipline myself again,” Donaire Jr. said.

His father also did not leave his side and even acted as the head of his son’s security team.

Rachel and her two sons Jarel and Logan, some family members and members of Team Donaire arrived in Cebu last week for Donaire’s first defense of his WBO world super bantamweight crown against No. 4 ranked Zsolt Bedak of Hungary in the main event of this Saturday’s “The Time Has Come: Donaire Vs. Bedak” at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).

Now, the fighter who is largely feared by his rivals for his lethal combination of speed and power is back on top and vows to put on a show this Saturday night. And a victory for his Cebuano fans is a promise he vowed to fulfill.

Donaire Jr. showed flashes of his readiness against Bedak in a public workout last Sunday at the Robinson’s Galleria Cebu. And if what he showed there is a peek of the form he is in right now, then this Saturday’s fight should never last the distance.