Brief Casual Talk via LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Ranked No. 4 in the world by Boxrec.com in the Bantam Weight Division, rising Filipino star, Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire, Jr., 28, may not have a better
prospect if the words of World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization Bantam Weight Champion, Fernando “Cochulito” Montiel, 31, are to be heed. His words seem to score hellish over the hidden, sneaky smiles of the Filipino Flash. Why? Has Cochulito spotted the weakest spots of his opponent? Tomorrow’s fight night would be one of fatal discharges. Yeah, it’s going to be a see-saw, at least for bettors. But, does Cochulito really have the skills to crush the stylish native from Bohol, Philippines?
“I will knock him out inside seven rounds,” Montiel declares.
Ranked No. 1 in the world by Boxrec.com in the Bantam Weight Division, Cochulito never had reservations of his determination when he went all the way down to Japan and fought Hozumi Hasegawa out in Spring of last year. A killer left hook caught Hasegawa, rattling the rangy Japanese’s senses and reducing him to a crippling robot while leaning on the rope, still standing but disoriented and unresponsive in fact with only one minute left in round four. Hasegawa lost his WBC Bantamweight belt which he held for 6 years since he snatched it via a unanimous decision from Veeraphol Sahaprom of Thailand in 2005.
Cochulito showed a convincing edge enough to make the oddsmakers flip-flop. He had a common nemesis with Filipino Flash. It’s Rafael Concepcion, 28, of Panama. Filipino Flash took Concepcion in a complete twelve rounds of boxing and won a unanimous decision in 2009. But, Cochulito knocked Concepcion out in round three in July of last year.
This Saturday night, Cochulito can be seen as the quicker Marco Antonio Barrera and Filipino Flash as the montrous Manny Pacquiao of 2003.
Cochulito has 48 professional fights since 1996, inclusive of 44 wins, 2 losses and 2 draws versus Filipino Flash’s 26 professional fights since 2001, inclusive of 25 wins and 1 loss.
Cochulito showed a knockout percentage of 70.83 over Filipino Flash’s 65. 38
But, is Cohulito really ready to face this magical challenger?
Footwork, hand speed, longer reach, height, better stamina, youthfulness and power – Filipino Flash has edge of them all.
Meanwhile, Cochulito’s fight with Z-Gorres, Filipino Flash’s compatriot, in 2007 was one of a classic manifestation where he had shown his will-power. He won a hard fought split decision, inversely losing the same kind of decision to Johnny Gonzales a year before. Yet, he showed his iron chin and experience in many instances in which he was rocked by those two fighters. Since then he knocked all his opponents out, except Juan Alberto Rosas whom he won over via a unanimous decision in 2008, most in early rounds. Filipino Flash built a similar foundation of his professional record – negligible to debate in fact.
On the other hand, Filipino Flash’s chin has been observed as untested. His old left ribcage injury from the lethal left hook of Rocky Fuentes, his sparring partner in 2007 for his fight against Luis Maldonado whom he knocked out in round 8, can be a crucial issue.
But, will Cochulito be able to deliver fatal shots considering his footwork and hand speed are a quarter less than of an A+ than that of Filipino Flash?
