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Analysis: Donaire's age showed in decision loss to Santiago

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Dennis Gasgonia, ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2741352" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>Filipino boxer Nonito Donaire Jr. has some soul searching to do after falling short in his attempt to become the oldest bantamweight champion.</p><p>Looking very much like a 40-year-old boxer, an ageing Donaire got outclassed by a younger Alexandro Santiago in their 12-round WBC bantamweight title clash.</p><p>Veteran boxing analyst Atty. Ed Tolentino said the &quot;Filipino Flash&#x27;s&quot; age showed when he was taken to the later rounds by the Mexican fighter.</p><p>&quot;As we expected and feared yung naging performance ni Donaire kay Santiago ay performance ng 40-year old grizzled veteran na matagal na walang laban at nagulpi sa huling laban kay Naoya Inoue,&quot; Tolentino told ABS-CBN News.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/30/23/santiago-earns-decision-win-over-donaire">Santiago earns decision win over Donaire for vacant WBC bantamweight title</a></li></ul><p>The analyst said Donaire&#x27;s best chance against Santiago was if he had knocked out the Mexican in the early rounds.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yung Round 3, may left hook siyang napatama, naalog at napaatras si Santiago pero walang follow up. Then from Round 6 and the rest of the way in-outwork na ni Santiago si Donaire,&quot; he said.</p><p>Tolentino said it was evident that Donaire is not only contending with Santiago but also against Father Time.</p><p>He said a younger version of the Filipino would have no problem taking down Santiago, he said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/29/23/boxing-donaire-looks-to-defy-father-time-in-santiago-bout">Boxing: Donaire looks to defy Father Time in Santiago bout</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Kung mayroon lang multiverse, the Flash could run back in time and pick up the best version of himself: &#x27;Yung tumalo kay (Fernando) Montiel at (Jorge) Arce. But there&#x27;s no such thing as the multiverse,&quot; said Tolentino.</p><p>The loss as put Donaire in a situation where he should rethink about fighting again.</p><p>&quot;Donaire will have to go back not only tot he drawing board, he has to have a meeting with his family and consult them... You have to get their opinion if you still want to do this,&quot; said Tolentino.</p><p>If Donaire decides to hang his gloves, he will be putting an end to a storied boxing career.</p><p>The Filipino Flash has held multiple world championships in four weight classes from flyweight to featherweight. He is also one of a handful of fighters to hold world championships in three consecutive decades: the 2000s, 2010s and 2020s.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/29/23/boxing-australias-moloney-expects-donaire-to-outclass-santiago">Boxing: Australia&#x27;s Moloney expects Donaire to outclass Santiago</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Hawak na niya ang record ng three-time bantamweight champion, he was looking to become the oldest champion at bantamweight e hawak na rin naman niya ito noong 38,&quot; explained Tolentino.</p><p>&quot;Hindi naman nalagasan ang legacy ni Donaire. I&#x27;m sure he&#x27;s still a hall of famer sa first year of eligibility niya and he is one of the greatest Filipino boxing champions of all time.&quot;</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2739895" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Filipino boxer Nonito Donaire Jr. has some soul searching to do after falling short in his attempt to become the oldest bantamweight champion.

Analysis: Donaire's age showed in decision loss to Santiago

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Analysis: Donaire's age showed in decision loss to Santiago

Dennis Gasgonia,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 30, 2023 11:00 PM PHT

Read More:

Nonito Donaire

Boxing

Alexandro Santiago

WBC bantamweight title

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