Filipino bantamweight contender Nonito Donaire will seek his own destiny on Sunday (Philippine time) when he goes after the world title of Mexico?s Fernando Montiel.
One of the more feared boxers today, Donaire has been living under the shadow of his more illustrious fellow General Santos City former resident Manny Pacquiao.
Donaire is now 28 years and close to four years removed from his sensational one punch KO win over Vic Darchinyan, then the most feared flyweight at the time.
The lanky bantamweight has since loitered around and has not been into a big ticket fight owing to his size and reputation. He even gave up his second world title in as many divisions to campaign in the bantamweight class and seek more glory and honor after failing to get a rematch with Darchinyan.
Montiel will afford Donaire the opportunity to showcase his boxing skills, one of the more complete package among small men in boxing.
Montiel however is no pushover. He is a veteran of 48 fights winning 44 of them (34 by knockout) while losing only twice and drawing also two times. He has been around and has fought the best in both the flyweight and bantamweight classes and won his first title in 2000.
Montiel is a brawler who waits for his opponent to come forward. He is durable and has little weaknesses. However, he has trouble against tall and lanky boxers who use their jab effectively. He narrowly lost to Jhonny Gonzales when he challenged the later for the bantamweight crown. He also narrowly won over Filipino challenger Z Gorres, another tall and stylish boxer. Only a late rally prevented him from dropping his crown against Gorres whom many believed boxed enough to deserve the decision.
Donaire should use his lateral movements to disrupt the rhythm of Montiel and throw those jabs and right hooks to set up his powerful combinations. Donaire is excellent at timing his punches and Montiel has the propensity to drop his left hand. A perfectly timed right straight off a fake uppercut could end the night for Montiel.
The Mexican however is dangerous when fighting in close quarters and would like to bomb Donaire?s body to neutralize the Filipino?s speed.
Veteran that he is, Montiel could also resort to some off the books tactics to frustrate Donaire.
But Montiel is right. This fight should end in a stoppage. If there is any consolation, Montiel is not the biggest puncher Donaire will ever meet. He did already with Darchinyan. That cannot be said of Montiel in fighting Donaire, however.
