NONITO DONAIRE JR. showed incredible sportsmanship and kindness when he translated Reymart Gaballo’s answers in their pre-fight press conference as Gaballo struggled to answer in English. Donaire went on to score a knockout in the fourth round to set up a rematch against Naoya Inoue.
Dustin Poirier showed he’s not just a warrior in the octagon but also has a heart of one when he pledged and vowed to donate $20,000 to a charity of Charles Oliveira’s choice after being submitted by Oliveira in their lightweight title fight at UFC 269.
Seven-time F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton and his father Anthony showing tremendous class and sportsmanship by congratulating newly minted 2021 F1 champion Max Verstappen and his father, former F1 driver Jos Verstappen, after a bitterly-fought Formula One season.
Many in the boxing community were not surprised by the act because that’s the kind of person he is. What particularly made it easier and without hesitation on his part was Gaballo is Filipino. Seldom do you see a Filipino world titleholder defend his strap against a countryman. According to boxingjunkie.usatoday.com, the word “great” has been used to describe Nonito Donaire for some time. Another apt term is “classy.
“The 39-year-old bantamweight titleholder demonstrated that once again Thursday at the final news conference to promote his defense against fellow Filipino Reymart Gaballo on Saturday in Carson, California (Showtime).
“When Gaballo was struggling with his English, Donaire stepped in to serve as his opponent’s translator before a neutral translator later took over.”
Donaire’s consoling words for Gaballo, “Reymart, know you are a formidable opponent and I respect you for sharing the ring with me. Keep your head up as I believe you have a bright future. I’m here if you need me,” Donaire said. “You are a warrior. You are strong, you are smart, you are talented. I am humbled by the way you really brought the fight. I wish to see you as a world champion someday. Know if you need me, I’ll be there for you . You have my respect…and my friendship.”
According to ph.news.yahoo.com, Poirier was asked about the donation by a reporter after the fight and said he had planned on doing it “win, lose or draw.”
“I saw a video this week of him showing where he grew up and where his mom cooked dinner for him. I think it was an old video. And [I] saw some of the sights of where he grew up and just how little they had. It came to me this week. I thought I was going to let him know win, lose or draw, [and] talk to him after and let him know me and the Good Fight Foundation would donate $20,000 to his city in Brazil and put the money to wherever he thinks it needs to be. He’s a good guy and he knows where the money will go the furthest. That’s what we’re going to do. And like I said, man, [I’m going to] continue to try to do good and that’s it. Be a better person every day.”
The same website says, still UFC lightweight world champion Oliveira, “The one thing I know at this point,” he said, via Yahoo Sports’ Kevin Iole, “is that nobody will hit me harder in the Octagon than life has hit me.”
The website dmarge.com on Hamilton after losing the F1 World Championship, “To suggest that Hamilton would be crushed would be to make the understatement of the century. But without delving into the politics and intricacies of Verstappen’s win, we just want to take the time to recognize (one of the many reasons) why Hamilton will go down as the Greatest Of All Time: his impeccable sportsmanship.
Despite being shattered both physically and emotionally, Hamilton very promptly went over and congratulated Verstappen on his win after getting out of his car at parc fermé. Hamilton’s dad, Anthony Hamilton, also made the point of congratulating Verstappen. Indeed, both Hamiltons went over and also congratulated Verstappen’s dad, former F1 driver Jos Verstappen.
Hamilton was also incredibly gracious and composed during his speech before heading up to the podium, showing grace under fire that we doubt Verstappen would have been capable of if the tables had been turned (sorry Max, we love you, but let’s be real here).
Even veteran motoring journalist Jeremy Clarkson, who’s never held back in his criticism of Hamilton, was impressed by his decorum, calling him “very very dignified.”
Even if you don’t like him, it’s hard to fault Hamilton’s status as a positive role model—beyond good sportsmanship. The first and only Black driver in F1 history, Hamilton has become a conscientious advocate against racism, as well as for human, environmental and animal rights. F1 couldn’t ask for a better global ambassador.”
We think it is safe to say that Nonito Donaire Jr., Lewis Hamilton, and Dustin Poirier conduct themselves with a lot of values such as humility and kindness.
In Hamilton’s case, you couldn’t ask for a better global ambassador for their sport, the same can be said for Donaire for boxing and for Poirier for MMA.
We wish everyone the Happiest and Merriest of Christmases and the Happiest and most Prosperous of New Years.