Nonito Donaire, Jr. (27 ? 1) has a lot at stake this Saturday at San Antonio, Texas when he faces Wilfredo Vasquez, Jr. for the vacant WBO super bantamweight title. Currently recognized as the third best fighter on the planet, Donaire has a shot at replacing Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. atop the rankings. His ascension to the top starts with Vasquez.
Donaire’s potential was widely recognized when he knocked out Vic Darchinyan in 2007 for the IBF flyweight titles. Boxing fans and experts weren’t the only ones who knew Donaire would become a star after destroying Darchinyan with a single punch. Darchinyan himself has steered clear of Donaire since losing his titles to the Filipino Flash. Unable to land a second fight with Darchinyan, Donaire fought quality opposition in his next seven fights until announcing his arrival to boxing superstardom last year. In a display of explosive power and dynamic skills, Donaire sent Mexican Fernando Montiel to the canvas in the second round of their bantamweight title fight. His win led many observers to tout Donaire as boxing’s next big star. Boxing legend Roy Jones, Jr., who served as an analyst for HBO in the Donaire ? Montiel fight, was in awe of Donaire and put him in the same class as Pacquiao and Mayweather. Jones gushed, ?It’s about who does the job. This kid (can) do the job. I see this kid doing some special things that not many fighters can do.”
After disposing of quality opponents in the flyweight, super flyweight and bantamweight divisions, Donaire is set to take on bigger names in the 122-lb division.
If he impresses against Vasquez (27 ? 1 ? 1), Donaire has a long list of possible opponents — opponents who are just as exciting as he is. Popular and exciting fighter Jorge Arce is being mentioned as a future opponent for Donaire. Arce is currently the WBO bantamweight champ and will defend it later this month against Lorenzo Parra. He’d be more than pleased to climb back up to 122 for a big money fight with Donaire. Cuba’s Guillermo Rigondeaux has recently started campaigning for a fight with Donaire. Rigondeaux is an interesting match-up for Donaire and it?ll be interesting to see that fight. If he continues to put on weight on his tall frame it’s possible we may see a Donaire ? Juan Manuel Lopez fight in the future. But before anything else, we shouldn?t get ahead of ourselves. The focus is on Vasquez.
Donaire’s fight against Vasquez this Saturday isn’t only for the vacant WBO super bantamweight title. It determines Donaire’s future ? big money fights and championship titles ? as the sport’s star. Once Pacquiao, Mayweather and Juan Manuel Marquez retire, boxing is going to need an exciting, skillful, and marketable fighter to carry on the torch as boxing?s top draw.
