As Manny Pacquiao wrapped up his well-documented tour of the East Coast on Tuesday in Washington, another formidable Filipino fighter prepared in comparative anonymity for the biggest fight of his career.
Nonito Donaire stands approximately 5 feet 6, about the same height as Pacquiao, but he is a much smaller star than the man who has inspired him by becoming a source of hope for so many impoverished Filipino people. They both hope that starts to change Saturday night in Las Vegas, where Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs) will challenge Mexico’s Fernando Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KOs) for the WBC and WBO bantamweight titles (9:45, HBO).
“Hopefully in the future,” Pacquiao said Monday, “he will be like me.”
The odds of Donaire, 28, matching Pacquiao’s popularity seem long, but the men do have several significant things in common other than being born in the same country. Like Pacquiao, the affable Donaire is humble, soft-spoken and doesn’t talk trash.
The fast-handed, powerful Donaire, nicknamed “The Filipino Flash,” also has become one of the best boxers in the world over the past few years.
Donaire, who moved to California when he was 10, is ranked No. 5 on The Ring magazine’s top 10 pound-for-pound list. He hasn’t lost since dropping a five-round unanimous decision in his second professional fight nearly 10 years ago.
The problem, unfortunately for Donaire, is that he has done all of his outstanding work at 115 and 112 pounds ? not exactly glamour divisions full of household names. His biggest victory came 3 1/2 years ago, when his crushing left hook knocked favored former flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan silly during the fifth round of their title fight in Bridgeport, Conn.
He hasn’t come close to losing since defeating Darchinyan, but he considers Mexico’s Montiel the most complete opponent of his career.
If Donaire can overcome Montiel, he might not remain at 118 pounds long.
Pacquiao has encouraged him to move up in weight and continue seeking challenges, the same path Pacquiao took toward superstardom.
“I think I can fight as heavy as 130 or 135,” Donaire said, “because of how much bigger I have become.”
It’ll take much more than moving up in weight, though, to become a Pacquiao-sized star.
