MANILA, Philippines ? Boxing promoter Bob Arum sees a lot of potential in Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire Jr. who may soon follow the steps of fellow Filipino and international superstar, Manny Pacquiao.
?I think Donaire can be a big star,? the Top Rank Inc. chief told FanHouse.com?s Elie Seckbach in an interview.
He said the 28-year-old native of Bohol is steadily growing and may continue to climb weight classes just like Pacquiao.
Donaire started fighting as a flyweight (112 pounds) in 2002.
He campaigned for a while as a super flyweight (115 lbs.) before returning to the flyweight division, where he knocked out Vic Darchinyan and won the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and International Boxing Organization (IBO) titles.
He is now a bantamweight (118 lbs.), and will fight former world champion Wladimir Sidorenko of Ukraine in ?Peligro (In Harm?s Way)? on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) in Anaheim, California.
?Donaire naturally is growing so he will be going up in weight, even more naturally than Manny,? said Arum, who heads the promotional outfit Top Rank Inc.
Arum said Donaire uses a different fighting style compared to Pacquiao.
?Manny Pacquiao is Manny Pacquiao. Nonito Donaire is another kind of fighter, [but] also a terrific fighter,? he said.
Unlike the current pound-for-pound champion, Donaire is more of a boxing technician. Some boxing analysts say he is a great defensive fighter with punching power.
Donaire is currently ranked by the Ring Magazine as the Top 5 pound-for-pound boxer in the world.
The Filipino Flash will be shooting for the World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight title when he faces Sidorenko.
A victory will give him the right to challenge Mexican champion Fernando Montiel, who holds the World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) titles.
“Peligro (In Harm’s Way)” will be aired locally by ABS-CBN Channel 2 on Sunday starting at 10:15 a.m.
