Los Angeles – On an early Monday evening, I headed over to Filipino food joint Goldilocks located in Eagle Rock. [Subscribe above to receive future articles in your mailbox]
Enjoying a wonderful order order of lumpia and surrounded by several Filipinos and Filipino-Americans, I thought it would be a good time to talk some boxing.
Nonito Donaire’s return was less than a week away, so why not talk about the second best Filipino fighter in the world?
The day Manny Pacquiao retires, the crazed Filipino boxing sub-culture will need a new hero to carry its flag and many think Donaire could be the man.
The twenty-seven year old super flyweight owns a record of 22 wins (14 by knockout) and 1 loss and burst on the scene with a one-sided knockout victory over then undefeated Vic Darchinyan.
Since then, inactivity has been Donaire’s biggest enemy, only fighting five times since after the 2007 watershed moment against Darchinyan.
Yonel Navarro, while munching on some lechon, said he does not believe that Nonito, or anyone else, could ever reach the level of popularity or prowess that Pacquiao has achieved.
“Manny is a once in a life time fighter, no other Filipino, Mexican, or African-American will ever receive the support Manny has or show skills Manny shows. Much less Donaire, I hate to say it, but he is an average fighter at best.”
Valid points by Yonel.
Manny Pacquiao is a special breed of fighter – a rare mix of ability, heart, and charisma. It will be hard for Donaire, or any other fighter to emulate what Pacquiao has done in the last decade.
76 year-old Filipino fight fan, only willing to give me the name Henry, born in Manila, had a slightly more optimistic view of Donaire.
“Let us not count out the kid, who knows, I mean, even I could get lucky enough to win the lottery.”
In disturbing ten or so more patrons, with varying degrees of boxing knowledge, the vibe at Goldilocks was clear, Nonito has a long way to go.
Change of opposition and future move in weight class
It was announced today that Donaire’s original opponent for his Saturday night fight at the Las Vegas Hilton, Gerson Guerrero, had to pull out of the fight due to a detached retina. Last minute opponent Manuel Vargas is now scheduled to scrap with Nonito.
During a Sunday night interview with The Boxing Truth Radio (click here to listen) Nonito made it clear that this fight would be his last as a super flyweight. Making weight has become a struggle for the Filipino and he is eyeing big boy featherweight Israel Vazquez.
Roy Jones – Bernard Hopkins hit Los Angeles
Roy Jones and Bernard Hopkins have been on the promoting trail during the last week trying to drum up interest in a stale rematch 17 years in the making.
First they hit media row in Miami during the Super Bowl. Earlier this week they stormed New York, New York. Today it was the Los Angeles boxing media’s turn to listen to why anyone should care about this fight.
Bernard Hopkins has not been entertaining since he fought Tito Trinidad back in 2002, and Roy Jones was last seen in December getting knocked out in the first round by Danny Green in Australia.
For those that care, the bout will take place April 3, 2010, in Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay with the action carried on HBO Pay Per View for approximately $49.
Back in 1993, Roy Jones took a 12 round unanimous decision from Hopkins.
