Everything doesn?t always make sense in the world of boxing. Things often seem to work backwards in a sport that is littered with corruption and mystery, with talent alone never being enough to warrant one the attention they truly deserve. When taking a look at the career of interim WBA super flyweight champion Nonito Donaire, it?s easy to get a little frustrated.
Sporting a 23-1 record with 15 knockouts, the Bohol native is undoubtedly one of the most gifted fighters in the sport and his desires to face the best pugilists around him have been well documented. Still, ever since his deft-defying 5th round knockout over Vic Darchinyan in July of 2007 Donaire hasn?t found himself in the kind of fights that would elevate his status in the sport. Donaire is ready, willing, and able but there seems to be some serious reluctance from those around him.
Taking place at the Harbour Yard Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut Donaire?s knockout over Darchinyan was the exact kind of performance that you look for in any young contender. Befuddling his trash-talking foe with speed and movement, Donaire was in complete control throughout in what was an essential good guy vs. bad guy matchup. In the 5th round Donaire would step back and catch the Armenian with a beautiful left hook that had the ?Raging Bull? dropped and dazed, with the contest being waived off seconds later. Donaire ran around the ring in celebration but ever since things haven?t played out as he would have hoped.
Donaire has gone 5-0 with 4 knockouts against somewhat credible yet still slightly non-descript opposition following that victory. He simply hasn?t been able to showcase his abilities against the type of fighters that would create for the aura of excitement and suspense. Even more disappointing was that it was Darchinyan, not Donaire, who found himself on the big stage after their meeting as he has graced Showtime?s airwaves on a constant basis against a list of former champions while his conqueror was left waiting in the shadows.
A rematch between the two men was said to be in the works, likely for this August at the Home Depot Center in California, but things would fall apart at the negotiating table as it was announced earlier this month that Darchinyan and his team were moving forward with the fight ?forever? out of their minds. It was yet another bitter pill for Donaire to swallow and he once again had to settle for something else as he bides his time for another meaningful showcase.
It was recently announced that Nonito Donaire will next be making an appearance on the July 10th undercard of Juan Manuel Lopez? WBO featherweight title defense against Bernabe Concepcion in Hato Ray, Puerto Rico. No opponent is slated as of yet but Top Rank boss Bob Arum told Philboxing.com that a list of 3 credible Mexicans and one Puerto Rican has been sent to Showtime, who is televising the Pay per view event, to look over. Arum also noted that Donaire?s fight would be broadcast live in Philippines by the ABS-CBN network.
In boxing sometimes you have to take what you can get even if it?s not what you want and this seems to be the case for Donaire. Heading into his last bout, a 3rd round blowout over late replacement Manuel Vargas at the Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, the storyline revolving around Donaire wasn?t his fight at hand nearly as much as the speculation regarding his future. Donaire mentioned the names of Darchinyan and newly crowned WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel but months later very little has seemed to change for the modest 27-year old.
One possible consideration for Donaire would be making the move to 118 pounds, as he has reportedly been having trouble shaking off weight in making the 115 limit. The bantamweight division is chalked full of talent from the likes of Montiel, WBA champion Anselo Moreno, former champion Joseph ?King Kong? Agbeko and others. This weekend?s IBF title bout between champion Yonnhy Perez and upstart Abner Mares could also play a huge role in Donaire? immediate future.
When you take a look at a fighter in the ring you typically get a feel for the kind of potential that they have. When looking at ?The Filipino Flash? Nonito Donaire I sense a man with much more to give and at times he has shown special qualities in the ring. There is still much more for him to prove and I just hope he is able to find the exact platform to make his wishes into reality.
For more on Nonito Donaire please click on the collage below for a picture by picture look at the Ring Magazine?s number 4 ranked fighter in the world?
