Donaire, Viloria now ‘adopted sons’ of Manila, like Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines – World champions Nonito Donaire, Jr. and Brian Viloria can now be called a “Manileño" like boxing great Manny Pacquiao. For their blistering romp in “The Flash & The Furious" double championship fight, IBF flyweight king Donaire and new IBF light flyweight supremo Viloria were feted by the City of Manila and warmly welcomed by appreciative Manileñoes. The two champs shared their latest conquests with residents in a festive-like victory motorcade that took them from Intramuros to the districts of Tondo, Tayuman, Sampaloc, Sta. Mesa, Ermita, Sta. Ana, and Escolta. Two other Pinoy fighters got their much-deserved day as well, newly-crowned WBC International minimumweight champion Denver Cuello and Sonny Boy Jaro. Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim led the well-wishers and supporters in honoring the champions, handing the symbolic Key to the City to Donaire in a ceremony at the city hall. This made Donaire the latest adopted son of Manila among a prestigious roster of boxers led by Pacquiao as well as Viloria, who had already been adopted by Manileñoes earlier when he won the WBC 108-lb strap. To further show their appreciation, the Manila city council also awarded Donaire and Viloria with P500,000 each as cash incentives. Cuello and Jaro were rewarded P50,000 each, as did another triumphant participant in the fight card, Drian Francisco, who failed to join Tuesday’s motorcade. “Ang tagumpay ng ating mga boksingero ay tagumpay din ng lahat ng Pilipino," Lim was quoted in the Balingtahali report. For their part, the sons of Manila thanked Manileñoes for their support and vowed to give something back by continuously striving to bring honor to the country. The Bohol-born Donaire and the Hawaii-based Ilocano Viloria made their homecoming of sorts by fighting in the Philippines for the first time. “Filipino Flash" Donaire lived up to his top billing by dismantling of Mexican-American challenger Raul Martinez with a 4th round TKO to defend his IBF 112-lb belt. “Hawaiian Punch" Viloria wrested the IBF 108-lb crown by knocking out erstwhile champ Ulises Solis of Mexico. Cuello and Jaro also hacked out impressive KOs on their end. The 22-year-old Cuello captured the vacant WBC International 105-lb diadem after stopping Japanese Hiroshi Matsumoto in four rounds while Manila’s Jaro made short work of Cebu’s Yukka Gejon, who was down in only a round. –GMANews.TV