IBF flyweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire (18-1, 11 KO’s) San Leandro, California, via Talibon, Bohol, Philippines. 25-years-old, 5’6″, 112 pounds. Style: Donaire is a polished boxer-puncher with the ability to box or bang depending on the situation. Nonito is the bigger, taller, younger and some believe the stronger of the Donaire brothers. His older sibling Glenn Donaire lost to the former IBF flyweight champion Vic “The Raging Bull” Darchinyan in October 2006, when he suffered a broken jaw in the sixth round. Nonito has fought much of his career as a bantamweight and a super flyweight, so he effectively has been able to cut weight and drop down to the 112 limit to capture the IBF title.
Significant Bouts: Donaire is coming off one of the biggest boxing Upsets of the Year, when he scored a fifth round knockout over the previously undefeated IBF champion Vic “The Raging Bull” Darchinyan. Fighting last July in Bridgeport, Connecticut at the Arena at Harbor Yard, Donaire was a 7 to1 underdog coming in to face the flamboyant and somewhat overconfident champion. Nevertheless, Donaire dropped and stopped Darchinyan to score a stunning and memorable fifth round knockout. Donaire connected with a classic counter left hook to the jaw that sent Darchinyan crashing to the canvas. The bloody champion managed to rise for a moment at the count of seven but his legs quickly gave way and he careened across the ring before collapsing into the ropes out on his feet. Referee Eddie Claudio quickly waved off the count at 38-seconds of the fifth round and awarded the IBF crown to Nonito after he came down in weight from 115 pounds. The historic victory set off a wild celebration in Filipino communities throughout California and in Manila and the Donaire hometown of General Santos City in the province of South Cotabato. With blood pouring from his nose and mouth and still obvious shaken, Darchinyan had to hold onto the ropes to stay upright but medical personnel and doctors quickly entered the ring and forced the former champion to lay back down on the canvas. It would take a number of minutes before Darchinyan was allowed to rise and even then he still seemed shaken.
Prior to the win over Darchinyan, Donaire scored a commanding 12 round unanimous decision over Oscar Andrade, in October 2006 to retain the NABF super flyweight title. In January of 2006, fighting in Temecula, California at the Pechanga Resort & Casino, Donaire captured the vacant NABF super flyweight title by scoring a hard fought 10-round split decision over Kahren Harutyunyan. Donaire dropped the Armenian born Harutyunyan in the second round and then withstood a late challenge from the boxer who currently fights out of Glendale, California, to nail down the victory. Donaire also had to overcome a damaged left hand that he injured early in the bout. Nevertheless, he was able to land enough clean shots to easily post the win on two of the three judges’ scorecards. Both judges Jose Cobian and David Denkin had Donaire the clear winner 97-92, while Tony Castellano scored the contest 95-94, for the former amateur star Harutyunyan. Donaire also holds victories over Ilido Julio (UD 8), Paulino Villalobos (TKO 6) and Ricardo Barrera (TKO 4).
Strength: Donaire has power in both hands and that was on display when he took Darchinyan apart last summer. Nonito has a number of weapons and he is very effective with left hand counters against fighters that try and swing from the heels. Donaire can land very crisp combinations and then come over the top with a right cross that can rattle most of his opponents. His biggest advantage is that he has been able to drop down from a bigger weight class while still retaining his power and strength. We aren’t sure how long he can fight in this division but as long as he does, his power and size is a great equalizer against smaller and faster opponents.
Weakness: There are two problems with Donaire and first is his left hand. He hurt it when scored his victory over Kahren Harutyunyan and the guy hits so hard that’s there is always the possibility of re-injuring the same left hand in every fight. Here’s a little tip off if he has suffered problems with his hand in training camp. If Donaire is wearing Grant boxing gloves which offer greater protection, rather than Reyes gloves; considered puncher’s gloves that just might be a factor. The only other weakness is the tight rope Donaire must walk everytime he climbs into the ring because he is basically a bantamweight but he’s fighting as a flyweight. The drain to cut weight might catch up with him soon.
——————————————————————————– Challenger Luis Maldonado (37-1-1, 28 KO’s) Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. 29-years-old, 5′ 5 ?”, 112 pounds. Style: Maldonado is a switch-hitter and he will move from an orthodox stance to fighting as a southpaw depending on the opponent and what works best for his defense. When he fought and was stopped against the lefthander Vic Darchinyan, Maldonado fought most of the night as a southpaw after opening the contest in a conventional stance. Not that it really did him any good but at least he has that ability in his arsenal. Maldonado is a boxer puncher and he is at his best when he can land his jab and then hook off the jab and set-up his combinations. Maldonado does have 28 KO’s on his resume both most of those victories have come against non-descript opposition south of the border.
Significant Bouts: Since losing his title shot to Darchinyan, Maldonado has strung together four straight wins but two of the victories came against guys with less the .500 records. In his last bout in October, Maldonado scored a 12 round unanimous decision over Sergio Espinoza in an IBF title eliminator. Prior to that he scored a fourth round TKO over Jorge Romero, Antonio Garibay (KO 5), and Javier Torres (TKO 4).
In June 2006, Maldonado was halted by the then IBF flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan, on a 8th round TKO. The southpaw Darchinyan was relentless from the opening bell and he never eased off the throttle against Maldonado, the IBF’s number-eight ranked challenger with a perfect record coming into the title fight. Darchinyan dropped Maldonado for the first time in his professional career in the 6th, and repeatedly hammered away with savage left hands that battered the durable Mexican around the ring. With Maldonado unable to return fire and Darchinyan repeatedly drilling the challenger with brutal volleys in the 8th, referee Joe Cortez had finally seen enough and he mercifully ended the carnage with the challenger still standing at the 1:38 mark of the round.
Over the course of his nine-year pro career, Maldonado holds wins over Tomas Gomez (SD 10), Juan Francisco Centeno Roque (KO 2), Francisco Garcia (TKO 5) and Oscar Arciniega (KO 3).
Strength: Maldonado has a very good chin and he is a valiant fighter. Despite eating a luggage full of leather when he lost to Darchinyan, Maldonado repeatedly went after the champion and continued to fire shots. He does his best work in close quarters and he’s a very effective body puncher. Maldonado’s best weapon is a right hand under the heart and several times when he was in with the ex-champ he jolted Darchinyan with hard hammers to the ticker.
Weakness: Maldonado’s defense is average at best and while he will attempt to cut the distance and stay busy on the inside he easily can get picked apart. Maldonado hit the deck for the first time against Darchinyan and Donaire has even more power, so he could be in for a long night. Factor in scar tissue over his left eye and Maldonado will have his hands full facing a younger, stronger and quicker opponent.
Prediction: As long as they haven’t squeezed Nonito too much to make weight the night should belong to Donaire. Riveting right crosses and digging left hooks will get soften Maldonado up and while he will battle for the first five rounds or so, the Filipino’s power is just too much to overcome. Nonito Donaire 6th round TKO victory.
