It?s important to be great at what you do? but in the sport of boxing, it?s also equally important not to be that fearsome and at the same time, be more popular than most of your peers.
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Tungod, Inabanga, Bohol ? ?The Filipino Flash? Nonito Donaire, Jr. (21-1-0, 15 KOs) is scheduled to defend his WBA super flyweight title against a young and relatively unknown fighter in Hernan ?Tyson? Marquez (27-1-0, 20 KOs) of Mexico at the Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot in Hato Rey, Puerto Rico on the 10th of July. While at first glance the Mexican?s record, not to mention his moniker, is one that might strike fear in the eyes of Donaire?s camp and his fans, a closer look at this largely deceiving record could very well offer them a major sigh of relief.
In all but 6 of his professional bouts fought, Marquez was pitted against a fighter who has yet to get double digits in the win column. Seventeen of which were against fighters who have won only two or less bouts. Take into consideration the fact that the supposedly hard-punching 21-year-old hasn?t won on foreign soil, losing his one and only fight outside of Mexico against another Filipino in Richie Mepranum in his last outing, we quite apparently have a pug with whom a fighter of Donaire?s caliber shouldn?t be fighting at this stage of the Filipino?s career.
Call me a cynic, but Donaire?s handlers have done a less-than-stellar job of catapulting this very promising career into newer heights. The Filipino Flash is probably approaching, if not already in, the peak of his pugilistic profession. These handlers might blame it on the idea that Donaire could change his moniker from ?The Filipino Flash? (which should, in my opinion, be Elorde?s alone) to ?The Avoided One?, but at least they should have done a whole lot better in making a compromise. They should bear in mind that a fighter could grow old overnight. You wouldn?t want to waste Donaire?s dynamic skill set and very promising talent just waiting in the sidelines or fighting someone who doesn?t deserve to be facing him across the ring, would you?
True enough that a well-established name would surely opt to avoid an encounter with Donaire. Especially with his in the wake his unanimous decision victory over Panama?s Rafael ?El Torito? Concepcion, in a bout where latter failed miserably (and maybe intentionally) to make weight.
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Concepcion failed to beat not just the super flyweight limit of 115 lbs, but also the bantamweight maximum of 118 lbs, tipping the scales at exactly 119? lbs, one night before the fight. El Torito then ballooned to a whopping 134 lbs during fight night, while Donaire, on the other hand, weighed in at exactly 115 lbs, putting up an extra 7 when he entered the squared circle. Donaire could have opted to call the bout off and avoid sharing the ring with a much bigger fellow, but instead gave it a go and never hesitated doing so. Utilizing his wits and sound boxing skills, the ?Filipino Flash? went on to eke out a unanimous decision victory against an oversized foe.
Donaire has power on both fists, coupled by a ring generalship, intelligence, and ability to adjust his style midway through the fight. These might be some of the major reasons why big names in his division would rather fight someone else. Add the fact that Donaire isn?t so popular outside of the Philippines, then you have a fighter who deserves, more than many others do, the tag of ?The Avoided One?.
