SEEING Yuriorkis Gamboa demolish Jorge Solis inside four rounds makes me wonder whether Nonito Donaire Jr has what it takes to compete in the 126 to 135 pound levels where the next pound for pound king could emerge.
Gamboa combined power and speed in knocking down Solis five times before the referee stopped the fight Sunday (Philippine time).
At 126 pound, of course, Gamboa is far too heavy for Donaire who recently captured the World Boxing Council bantamweight crown.
Then there is Juan Manuel Lopez, another fast rising knockout artist who is now dominating the featherweight division together with Gamboa.
In fact, Gamboa and Lopez are definitely heading towards collision course as both are handled by Bob Arum?s Top Rank. For Arum, it is just a matter of timing when these two power-punching undefeated fighters become PPV attractions for him to cash in on their bankability and pit them against each other.
Which leaves us wondering where will Donaire be in the equation?
Leaving Top Rank for bitter rival Golden Boy Promotion was definitely a strategic career decision for Donaire, one of top pound for pound boxers in the world today.
At almost 5?7?, he is far too tall for his current weight and had already expressed his intention of moving up to the 135-pound limit.
For him to become a PPV headliner, Donarie will have to cross paths with Gamboa and Lopez, possibilities that probably no longer exist following his signing with Golden Boy Promotions.
Arum has always been fascinated with Latino boxers because of their incredible ability to pull in boxing fans and huge PPV numbers.
In Juan Manuel Lopez, he found one that will one day replace Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao. Arum has been so enamored with Lopez that he even brought the Puerto Rican to the birthday bash of Pacquiao last year.
In building up Lopez, he threw in the smaller Gerry Pe?alosa into the lion?s den. True enough, Lopez conquered Pe?alosa but he never was able to knock down the gritty Cebuano. Reports however said Gerry urinated blood after the fight.
Lopez will be up against Orlando Salido next month. Should Lopez get past Salido as expected, a ring date with Gamboa could be had as early as the first semester of next year.
Donaire, therefore, will have to make himself relevant by conquering greater heights and fighting more marquee boxers.
He should be at the 126 to 130 pound limit by early next year to be in the thick of conversation and convince Golden Boy that he is Oscar de la Hoya?s crown jewel.
Bob Arum would gladly pit him against either Lopez or Gamboa in the future to get his measure of revenge should Donaire hurdle his expected legal woes with Top Rank.
Which leave us again wondering, was getting out of Top Rank and right or wrong decision for Donaire?
Let us see what the future holds for Lopez, Gamboa and Donaire ? all fighters who will definitely dominate the pond pound for pound discussions starting the second half of this year.
