NEW YORK: Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire Jr. will gun for an early knockout in what is expected to be an explosive defense of his world bantamweight titles against undefeated Argentine challenger Omar ?The Hurricane? Narvaez Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila) at the Madison Square Garden. As of Friday night Donaire (26-1, 18 by knockouts) was a minus 250 favorite to keep his World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization titles, meaning a bettor needs a $250 capital to win $100, according to Bet.Online.com.
The odds, of course, generally reflect the realities of this title fight: Donaire is eight years younger and he is bigger than the more experienced Narvaez, who is fighting for the first time at bantamweight (118 pounds).
?You will see a great fight,? Donaire promised during a press conference Thursday. I wanna give it my all.?
Sounding supremely confident, Donaire, 28, hinted that he would try to ?impose my will? and dictate the tempo very early the fight.
But he stressed that he is not underestimating Narvaez, who was relaxed and just a confident as his bigger Filipino-American foe.
?You know, I expect him to be bigger physically, but that does not matter,? Narvaez said through interpreter Ricardo Jimenez, Top Rank?s Latino media coordinator.
?I?m ready,? added Narvaez as he stressed that his moving up in weight would not be factor in his first fight ever in the United States.
?I came here to show everyone what a great, capable fighter I am. I know I can win this fight,? said Narvaez who at five-foot-three inches is no stranger to beating bigger opponents. Showing tremendous respect for his more experienced foe, Donaire addressed Narvaez as ?gran campeon ? (a great champion) in Spanish.
Donaire stressed that he is prepared for whatever the crafty challenger brings to the ring and vowed ?to go at it? during his first defense of his WBC and WBO titles since knocking out erstwhile champion Fernando Montiel of Mexico in the second round last February.
Like his more illustrious compatriot Manny Pacquiao, Donaire has demonstrated an ability to pack more power as he moved up in weight. His first two fights at bantamweight weight both ended early ? a fourth round technical knockout of former International Boxing Federation bantam champ Volodymyr Sydorenko on Dec. 4, followed by a second round stoppage of Montiel 45 days later.
Before the big stage at the Madison Square Garden and an even bigger live audience on HBO, the flamboyant Donaire is expected to come out blazing with both hands in the opening round, looking for an early knockout.
Top Rank Promotions chief executive Bob Arum said the fight would be beamed live in the Philippines by ABS-CBN.
Narvaez, who has good defense and a strong chin, is likely to capitalize on his boxing skills, hoping to take the explosive Pinoy champion to the middle and later rounds.
This is not to say that Narvaez, who is not used to being bullied in the ring, will not go toe-to-toe with the aggressive Donaire in the early rounds when forced to do so.
The key factor is how Narvaez would withstand the exceptional punching power of Donaire, particularly his hard-to-telegraph left hook.
With his quick hands and longer reach, Donaire is capable of dictating the pace of the fight and piling up points round after round.
But as the defending champion has indicated, he won?t be satisfied with less than and emphatic KO win in this transition match as he prepares to move up to bigger challenges at featherweight.
This knockout mindset, plus Donaire?s attacking stance and tricky counter-punching, portends of an early finish by The Filipino Flash.
Our fearless forecast: Donaire by stoppage in five rounds.
