If there is one thing I have learned about covering fights, it?s that National Pride can turn a good fight into something exceptional. Frenetic chants, colorful banners and flags and the frenzied masses feverishly displaying their national colors. This can sometimes inject an immeasurable amount of energy into a combatant when they absolutely need it. While this phenomenon mainly applies to fighters from places like Mexico, Cuba and Puerto Rico, it is a densely populated island chain in the South Pacific that rivals them all.
The Philippines holds that distinction in this writer?s eyes. It is a country ripe with a nationalistic vigor for boxing like almost no other in the world. It?s this very heightened sense of athletic self that has helped to generate some of the sport?s most legendary pugilists. Filipino fighters like Pancho Villa, Luisito ?Lindol? and one of the sports most recognizable names, Manny ?Pacman? Pacquiao have all made their mark for this tiny island nation.
The fiery fisted Pacquiao has slowly become the stuff of legend, amassing a record of 52-3-2 with 38 knockouts and taking down boxing?s elite in the process. Names like Antonio Margarito, Joshua Clottey, Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, Oscar De La Hoya, Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barerra and Erik Morales have all fallen at the hands of ?The Pacman?. In doing so he has inadvertently become the face of the Philippines. His entrance into the ring these days bring shouts from the crowd that eclipses the decibel levels of a jet engine. However, out from behind the massive shadow cast by one of the sports largest icons, steps a young pacific islander seeking his own spotlight.
In the past few years there has been an ever increasing chatter about a young Filipino bantamweight some now say is a younger, lighter and faster version of Pacquiao. His name is Nonito Donaire, or as he is more commonly known as ?The Filipino Flash.? The 28 year old carries with him many attributes his legendary predecessors from his homeland carried with them, devastating speed, an elusive defense and thunderous punching power.
This dangerous combination of attributes has earned him a record of 25-1 with 17 knockouts and the title of Ring Magazines #5 Pound-for-Pound fighter. Donaire also added the WBC Continental Americas Bantamweight Champion to his resume with his knockout win of Volodymyr Sydorenko in December of 2010. With his Filipino following and ever growing fan base increasing to greater heights, the young phenom looks to further cement his reputation as he takes on quite possibly the toughest fight of his career.
Standing across the ring from him on February 19th at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino will be WBO/WBC Bantamweight Champion Fernando ?Cochulito? Montiel. The already legendary fighter Montiel, stands atop his division with a brutal record of 44-2, 34 victories coming by way of knockout. The three time Champion from Los Mochis, Mexico has been nearly flawless since his last defeat in 2005 to Jhonny Gomez, winning nine of his last 12 fights by knockout.
The less flashy Montiel is a bit of an underdog going into his fight with Donaire. This is a bit misleading when noting that he is a veteran of the 118 lb weight class and recently stopped top ranked Japanese fighter Hozumi Hasegawa in four rounds. Outside factors for this shift if betting odds may stem from a combination of Donaire?s popularity and meteoric rise or even from a lesser known motorcycle accident involving Montiel that happened as early as last October.
Will the flashy young phenom from the Phillipeans become the next people?s champion, inspiring another legion of fans? Will a Mexican warrior ascend into the pantheon of bantamweight legends? Who is the best Bantamweight in the business? These and many other questions will be answered on February 19th at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas when two of the best boxers in the sport to face off in one incredible night of boxing.
