In another time and space, Nonito Donaire would have been the toast of Philippine boxing given that not a few world boxing champions are fearfully getting out of his harm?s way.
At 5?7? Donaire is tall and lanky for his bantamweight class and possesses one of the most powerful left hooks among fighters below the lightweight limit.
His one-punch annihilation of Vic Darchinyan still rankles as among the best knockout punches in the last decade.
Timed and released perfectly, it was a devastating knockout that solicited fear among flyweights.
Darchinyan has since recovered although he lost another bout after winning several other fights. He has been saying he is willing to have a rematch against Donaire but never went through the motion of pushing for it. Understandably so. That knockout punch is one that will forever resonate in his mind. It will suck the spirit to fight out of him. Believe me, Darchinyan won?t ever climb into the ring to face Donaire ? never again.
While that KO win over the Armenian was Donaire?s ticket to boxing superstardom, it is also fast becoming his baggage for more big ticket fights.
Aside from that, he happened to be in a period where all eyes are focused on his fellow Filipino world champion, Manny Pacquiao.
Until Pacquiao fades into the horizon, Donaire will remain second fiddle if not totally ignored by big time promoters. There is simply no market for little men in the competitive but highly discriminating taste of pay-per-view buyers.
In short, the economics and the economy are also proving to be Donaire?s enemies.
But Donaire should keep himself busy and position himself to eventually take over the mantle that will be left behind by Manny.
The bantamweight division is devoid of marquee boxers that command big purses. Donaire can certainly bulk up and campaign in the featherweight class where some of the bigger names in boxing are making a case for PPV attraction for themselves.
In these trying times in the US economy, only two fighters are sure fire blockbuster attractions ? both on live gates and PPVs. They go by the names of Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. and the two are not going to fight each other soon despite being on the same weight category and occupying the top two places in everyone?s best pound for pound lists.
Donaire, however, is pure talent and his time will come. Provided he is patient and he makes the right decision.
