If there was ever one performance that stood out to me from WBC and WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel, it would be his June 2002 dissection of then unbeaten WBO super flyweight champion Pedro Alcazar inside of the MGM Grand. Fighting underneath the second Marco Antonio Barrera-Erik Morales scrap and vying for his second world title, Montiel shined on this night and left a lasting impression despite the unfortunate aftermath of the event.
Inside of the ring it was a masterpiece from Montiel, who boxed effortlessly and picked his Panamanian foe apart with piercing combinations more and more as the fight wore on. In the sixth a retreating Alcazar was shielded from referee Kenny Bayless, who called a halt to the one-sided action. It was a great performance from a terrific little fighter, one I will never forget.
Alcazar had to cut serious weight for the fight and his dehydration seemed to affect him severely. Two days after the first loss of his career, reports began leaking that Alcazar had collapsed after taking a shower, dying moments later. It was a definite sorrowful note to one of Montiel’s greatest victories as a professional, one that made it very bittersweet.
Newsflash: Freddie Roach talks Pacquiao-Mosley, Khan-McCloskey, more
Nearly nine years later and ‘Cochulito’ is still standing, just days away from another huge moment of his career as he will face ultra talented upstart and former flyweight titlist Nonito Donaire inside of the Mandalay Bay. Earlier tonight Montiel landed in Las Vegas for this weekend’s bout, set to take place on Saturday night.
A lot has happened from Montiel since the Alcazar fight, including a few losses and a career renaissance in 2010 that saw him upset WBC champion Hozumi Hasegawa on his home turf of Japan in April. He is a 2-1 betting underdog against his 28-year old foe and a loss would surely be devastating at this point.
But Fernando Montiel has been here before. He is both seasoned and deadly, with power in each of his fists, and reportedly had been training like a beast in Mexico in his native Los Mochis. Montiel is looking for glory again and if he is able to turn back the clock to 2002 the night could be his.
