When taking a look at tonight?s In Harm?s Way lineup from Anaheim, California, the two names that seem to resonate the most are that of two-division champion Nonito Donaire and WBC lightweight titlist Humberto Soto. Each man is pitted in fights against respected and capable foes who they are expected to defeat and if so, Donaire and Soto seem poised for something much more meaningful in 2011.
Donaire is fighting his first fight in the bantamweight division against former champion Wladimir Sidorenko, a native of the Ukraine. If successful Donaire will be eyeing a hopeful February 19th clash with WBC and WBO champion Fernando Montiel, a contest that would likely end up at the Mandalay Bay of Las Vegas.
<--- Slideshow: Fight week images of Nonito Donaire and Humberto Soto
Sidorenko has definitely been battle tested over the past six years, having made a good account of himself against the likes of Joseph Agbeko, Ricardo Cordoba twice and most recently WBA champion Anselmo Moreno, who he dropped two very close bouts to in 2008 and 2009. Sidorenko?s attack is rather basic but his is durable with a high guard, calm under pressure, and a true professional through and through.
Soto introduced himself to American audiences in August of 2005 with a commanding upset over then-undefeated Rocky Juarez in Rosemont, Illinois on the undercard to Fernando Vargas? decision victory over Javier Castillejo. Soto was filling in for injured champion In-Jin Chi and put a serious damper on the buzz surrounding Juarez as his advantages in range and reach gave the Houston fighter problems all night long.
Since that breakthrough victory Soto has remained extremely busy, compiling a 16-2 record while winning titles in the super featherweight and lightweight divisions. He lost a unanimous decision to Dominican stylist Joan Guzman three years ago and two fights later would be disqualified in Las Vegas in the 4th round of his bout with sometimes dirty Franciscio Lorenzo under questionable circumstances as referee Joe Cortez deemed a bloody Lorenzo the winner after finding a Soto punch to be illegal after he said it landed behind the head. Replays show that the blow was glancing, however, and it seemed to be a case of Lorenzo looking to find a way out of a fight he was well on the way to losing.
Soto won his WBC title, which was vacant at the time, with a rather uneventful decision over Chicago?s David Diaz this past March on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao?s victory over Joshua Clottey at Cowboys Stadium. It has been a while since he has delivered the type of eye-catching performance that the boxing world hangs on to and his opponent tonight, Urbano Antillon, shouldn?t be overlooked.
Antillon is an aggressive fighter who has sparred with Pacquiao in the past as well as the late Edwin Valero. He suffered his first loss last July, a slightly unexpected one, when he was stopped in the 9th round by Venezuela?s Miguel Acosta. He will likely press Soto a bit harder than anyone in recent memory and the fight should tell us whether or not Antillon is championship material and just how much Soto has left at this stage.
Nothing really stands out about Soto?s attack, as he is simply a blue collar type of pug who puts his rounds in and seems to find a way to come out on top. At 135 pounds there is a nice mix of veteran champions and rising stars with really no excuses for Soto to not go after some serious names in the coming year. If he really wants to test himself as a fighter the platform he seeks is right in front of him.
The fighter with the most star potential is definitely Donaire, who broke out in July of 2007 with his sensational stoppage over Vic Darchinyan that netted him the IBF flyweight championship of the world. Despite failing to fully capitalize on the momentum on that bout Donaire has remained in heavy discussions within boxing circles simply because his unorthodox talent and versatility are undeniable. A bout with Sidorenko is actually a decent matchup in its own right but one that has been overlooked simply because people are itching to see Donaire on the grandest of stages.
Throughout boxing history there have been cases of fighters eyeing the big prize at the end of the tunnel who end up being derailed by an undaunted foe. Donaire and Soto are in positions where the public fully recognizes their potential and is clamoring for something greater from each of them. All roads lead through Sidorkeno and Antillon tonight at the Honda Center.
