Nonito Donaire to join Manny Pacquiao at Boxing Hall of Fame event in NY
FILE PHOTO (AP Photo/John Locher)
NEW YORK – “The Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire Jr. will join boxing legend Manny Pacquiao at the 2025 Hall of Fame Induction Weekend festivities set for June 5-8 in Canastota, New York.
One of boxing’s all-time greats, Pacquiao has been elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) Class of 2025. The induction ceremony will take place during the Hall of Fame induction weekend.
Donaire will make his first visit to Canastota to participate in the festivities.
“I am deeply honored to be selected for the International Boxing Hall of Fame,” Pacquiao said in a statement. “Throughout my career as both a professional boxer and a public servant, my goal has been to bring pride to the Philippines and Filipinos worldwide.”
Joining Pacquiao in the Class of 2025 are notable figures including “The Pazmanian Devil” Vinny Paz, Yessica “Kika” Chavez, referee Kenny Bayless, broadcaster Randy Gordon and television producer Ross Greenburg. Inductees were chosen by members of the Boxing Writers Association of America and international boxing historians.
“We are thrilled to honor these outstanding contributors to the sport during the upcoming Induction Weekend,” said Edward Brophy, IBHOF executive director.
The event will feature various activities in Canastota and nearby Turning Stone Resort Casino, such as ringside talks, a 5K fun run, autograph shows, a parade and the induction ceremony itself.
Since opening in 1989, the IBHOF has celebrated boxing’s rich history and its greatest champions and contributors.
Donaire, a four-division world champion, has earned accolades including BWAA’s 2012 Fighter of the Year and The Ring’s 2019 Fight of the Year.
“Nonito Donaire thrilled fans around the world with his exciting and skillful ring style,” said Hall of Fame director Edward Brophy. “We are thrilled that he will make his first visit to Canastota in June to take part in Hall of Fame Weekend festivities.”
Donaire captured world championships in four weight divisions – flyweight, bantamweight, super bantamweight and featherweight – and scored wins over Vic Darchinyan, Fernando Montiel, Omar Narvaez, Jorge Arce and Wilfredo Vazquez Jr., among others.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao, 46, is also preparing for a return to the ring. He is set to challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title on July 19 in Las Vegas, marking his first professional fight in nearly four years. Pacquiao’s last win came in 2019 when he claimed the WBA welterweight title by split decision over Keith Thurman.
After retiring in 2021 following a loss to Yordenis Ugás, Pacquiao has remained active in exhibition bouts and politics. He previously served as a Philippine senator from 2016 to 2022 and ran for president in 2022, finishing third.
When Pacquiao is officially inducted on June 8, he will be recognized as the only boxer in history to win major world titles in eight different weight classes and as a 12-time world champion.
