Boxing Writers Association in America voted Nonito Donaire as " Fighter of the Year"

The rising boxing superstar has now gathered  a mass of honors for the astonishing boxing performance in 2012 when he displayed a mental prowess and superior boxing skills against four champions.

Nonito Donaire, the super bantamweight champion has been named Fighter of the Year for 2012 by the Boxing Writers Association of America. Donaire successfully defended his world title four times in 2012, the last two by stoppage, as he surged toward the top of most pound-for-pound fighter lists. It marks the fourth time in the last seven years that a boxer from the Philippines has won the BWAA's Sugar Ray Robinson "Fighter of the Year" award. Countryman Manny Pacquiao held this in 2006, 2008, and 2009. 

Nonito Donaire won the WBO 122 pound title with a comfortable win over Wilfredo Vazquez Jr of Puerto Rico last February.Then successfully defended the title three times beating IBF champion Jeffrey Mathebula of South Africa and breaking his jaw in two places before scoring a 9th round TKO win over Japan’s WBC bantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka and then dropping Mexico’s four division champion Jorge  Arce three times to en route to a 3rd round knockout. 

Nonito told the Manila Standard he was “deeply honored and humbled by the award” and thanked the Boxing Writers Association of America for the award which touched him at a significant moment in his career and his life.

Meanwhile Robert Garcia, Donaire's trainer has been recognized as winner of the Eddie Futch "Trainer of the Year" award. In addition to Donaire, Garcia has developed world title holders including Mikey Garcia and Brandon Rios.