Casual talk from Hollywood, California – Forget about Nonito Donaire, Jr.’s old left ribcage injury which he has been complaining all along as it causes him insurmountable pain whenever he gets hit to
that section. That said injury originally was resulted from the lethal left hook of Rocky Fuentes, the reigning OPBF flyweight titlist, when they sparred in 2007 to prepare for his fight against Luis Maldonado whom he knocked out in round eight during his title defense for the International Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organization Flyweight Championships. It’s all about Donaire, Jr’s untested chin after all his twenty-six professional fights since 2001.
Will Fernando Montiel, the more experienced one, be able to test Donaire, Jr’s chin?
Known as a switch-hitter with the ability to fight either southpaw or orthodox, Donaire, Jr. is bent to make a bigger statement over Fernando Montiel of Mexico come their fight night on February 19 this winter.
Consider this: Montiel, widely speculated to defeat Eduardo Garcia this December 11 title match in Coahuila de Zaragoza, Mexico for the WBC Bantam Weight title, will become an underdog on such freezing night in the US against Donaire, Jr., challenging his belts in the bantam weight division, both from World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Council (WBC). And their fight will surely foment the bitter rivalry between Mexico and Philippines in the world of boxing.
But, knowing full well that these two fighters packed disorienting power in their hands, Montiel and Donaire, Jr., both never defeated by knockout and both of orthodox stance, would inspire lengthy debates in the forums of boxing websites and even in the sports bars and casual corners where fight fans congregate. Probably the closest fighter in the bantam weight division who can somehow match the skills of the two-world division champion, Montiel will have to make a statement of his own as well.
Montiel has forty-three wins inclusive of thirty-three knockouts and only has two losses and two draws. His two losses: one by split decision from Jhonny Gonzalez in 2006 and another by majority
decision from Mark Johnson in 2003. Donaire, Jr. has twenty-five wins inclusive of seventeen knockouts and one loss via a unanimous decision from his second professional fight against Rosendo Sanchez in 2001. Out of forty-seven professional fights, Montiel has 70.21% knockouts. For Donaire, Jr., out of twenty-six professional fights, he has a knockout percentage of 65.38. Both fighters won their last three fights by way of knockout.
Three boxing fans this writer asked at random, however, still think Montiel, 31, may not have convincing answers to Donaire, Jr.’s versatility. Even as some predicted that a brutal knockout was coming upon Volodymyr Sydorenko of Ukraine last night in early rounds, they suppose as well Donaire, Jr., 28, might just too much as well for Montiel to handle.
“I love to see Donaire, Jr. fight Fernando Montiel. But, I think Donaire, Jr. might just be too much for Montiel,” said Armando Torres from Sinaloa, Mexico who attended ‘In Harms Way’ boxing event last night in Anaheim, California. “Donaire, Jr. is too fast, too intelligent and too powerful.”
Both known for their great counter-punching ability, Donaire, Jr. and Montiel will have to put, if not to glue, their spectators’ gaze as they’ll try to anticipate as to who will have a quicker reflex and stronger response.
A chess-grandmasterlike thinker, “Donaire, Jr. will just completely outclass Montiel just as he did upon Sydorenko,” said Jorge Morales who claims to be one of the ringside keepers of Honda Center.
Donaire, Jr.’s speed, power and counter-intelligence would be the factors that Montiel’s arsenal may just render a powerless ploy, both defense and offense.
“And I don’t think Montiel will last twelve rounds,” Morales added.
“Based on the last three fights of Donaire, Jr., I see him as a difficult fighter for Montiel to handle because of his hand speed and he has too much power,” said Berto Alvarez from Orange County, California. “Montiel’s style is still typical of a Mexican fighter … attack and attack and sometimes he forgets to keep a better defense on many occasions of his fight. But he is a very dangerous fighter for Donaire, Jr., too.”
But, “I think Donaire, Jr. is faster than Montiel,” he smiled.
Studying closely the major fights of Montiel, the Mexican might just get hit a lot as he will try to pin down Donaire, Jr. Despite being of orthodox stance, Montiel has a great ability to throw counter-
punches with his left. But, the issue for him will simply narrow on how to handle Donaire, Jr.’s hand speed and his one punch knockout power, which I think Montiel is short of a few voltages. Donaire, Jr.’s great ability to mount a circling footwork and quick jabs will become a big challenge as well for Montiel.
Donaire, Jr. will just be more entertaining and fresher than ever and even too magical for the Chilango from Monchis, Sinaloa, Mexico City.
On that fight night, Donaire, Jr. would be the bigger guy and more imposing of his towering authority in the ring.
Call him: The Real Filipino Flash!
