MANILA, Philippines ? Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire is asking for prayers and support from his fellow Filipinos as he takes on the toughest fight of his career against Mexican champion Fernando Montiel.
Donaire will be challenging Montiel for the World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight titles at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
?Sana po nandoon ang prayers n?yo at support,? said Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs).
Then he gave this assurance: ?Reading-ready na po ako.”
Both boxers made the 118-pound bantamweight limit on Friday (Saturday in Manila).
The fight against Montiel is seen to be the real test for the Filipino Flash, who has been unbeaten in his last 24 fights.
The Mexican champion, nicknamed as Cochulito or ?The Rooster?, is a veteran of 48 professional fights. Out of his 44 victories, he notched 34 KOs against 2 losses and 2 draws.
Donaire, on the other hand, started garnering attention from boxing fans since his spectacular 5th-round knockout victory over Armenian-Australian superstar Vic Darchinyan in 2007.
In his most recent fight, he knocked out former world champion and Olympic bronze medalist Vladimir Sidorenko of Ukraine.
Both Donaire and Montiel are included in Ring Magazine?s Top 10 pound-for-pound best boxers in the world.
Close fight
Several boxers who attended the weigh-in ceremony are expecting a close fight between the two bantamweight warriors.
“It’s going to be a close fight because if you look at Donaire, he’s the best 118,? said Mexican boxing legend Marco Antonio Barrera.
Antonio Margarito, who lost to Manny Pacquiao last November, sees a battle of strategies between Donaire and Montiel.
?The one with the better strategy will win,? said the Tijuana Tornado.
Puerto Rican champion, Juan Manuel Lopez, sees it even.
?It?s going to be 50-50. Both are good and courageous fighters,? he said. — With a report from Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News
Ang Pagtutuos: Nonito Donaire vs. Fernando Montiel will be aired in the Philippines on Sunday at 10:15 a.m. on ABS-CBN Channel 2 (replay at 11:30 p.m.) and 9 p.m. on Studio 23.
