Filipino bantamweight sensation Nonino Donaire kept his end of the deal and finally sealed a championship fight against reigning World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization bantamweight title holder Fernando Montiel of Mexico when he knocked out his Ukranian foe last Sunday (Philippine time).
Donaire will officially hold a two-inch height advantage as well as a four-inch wing span difference over Montiel.
At 27 years old, Donaire is also younger than Montiel who will turn 32 two weeks after their scheduled 19 February fight.
Montiel of course is the more veteran fighter having already logged a total of 47 fights with an excellent knockout percentage of 70% in winning 43 of his fights. He has lost only twice and has drawn also twice since starting as a professional fighter in 1996. He also has never been knocked out.
Donaire, on the other hand, is on the roll. He won his last 25 fights after dropping a unanimous decision and only loss ever in his second fight. That was way back in 2001, the same year he turned pro.
Montiel is a slugger with power in his both hands but has shown his vulnerability against a sweet counterpunching boxer. e narrowlHe He narrowly won by split decision over Filipino Z Gorres in Cebu City in 2007. I saw that one as a fight that should have gone to Gorres, though. Gorres is now forcefully retired from boxing after a career-ending brain surgery when he collapsed immediately after winning by unanimous decision over Luis Melendez late last year.
On paper, Montiel is the better fighter, having fought more fights than Donaire but the Filipino is the stronger puncher and possesses one of the more complete boxing skills among contemporary fighters today. In fact, among the top 10 pound for pound fighters, of which Donaire is ranked as high as fifth in some lists, Donaire is perhaps the most technically gifted. Fellow Filipino boxing superstar and world number one fighter Manny Pacquiao included.
At 31 going 32, Montiel is likewise already primed for the picking.
This one should be an entertaining match up but I see Donaire either knocking out Montiel in the middle rounds or eking out a convincing unanimous decision win.
Donaire has been waiting for his moment in boxing spotlight which, over the last five years, is being dominated by Pacquiao.
No, he won?t be able to take that away from his fellow Filipino.
For Donaire, it is enough form him for be the second fiddle. He knows is time will also come soon.
But first, he should take care of Montiel. If he does that, I will run a column solely devoted to him. Like my Pacquiao Watch which, by the way, I started way back in 2005.
