This past Saturday?s bantamweight superfight between Nonito Donaire and Fernando Montiel lasted less than two rounds. But it was far from disappointing. The left hook that separated Montiel from his senses was the most spectacular single punch landed in a title bout since Sergio Martinez cold-cocked Paul Williams last year. Coincidentally, that knockout also occurred in the second round.
However, the fight to which the Donaire-Montiel result has been most frequently compared is Manny Pacquiao?s two-round dismantling of Ricky Hatton in a 2009 junior-welterweight title bout. Pacquiao?s victory cemented his status as the top pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Donaire?s win will move him up in the pound-for-pound ranks, though he will still stand lower than Pacquiao ? but then, so does every other contemporary pugilist.
Comparisons between Donaire and Pacquiao are inevitable. Both fighters are speedy, savvy, and punch way above their weight. And, of course, they are both of Filipino origin. The difference is that Pacquiao has spent his life in the Philippines, while Donaire?s family moved to the United States when he was a child. Unlike the rift between Mexicans and Mexican-Americans, however, this distinction doesn?t seem to matter to Filipino fight fans on either side of the Pacific.
With their similar attributes and fighting styles, the obvious question arises: Can Donaire duplicate Pacquiao?s multiple-title dash up the weight-division ladder? Another question: Should he even attempt such a feat?
Well, Donaire stands 5?6?. Pacquiao?s height is 5?6?. Hmmmm.
Donaire?s reach is 68?. Pacquiao?s is 67?. Hmmmm.
Despite this similarity in height and reach, however, the most important consideration is whether or not Donaire?s frame can accommodate another 20-30 pounds of lean muscle as readily as Pacquiao?s has.
That seems unlikely.
Donaire is 28 years old, and he was able to make the 118-pound bantamweight limit without noticeably weakening. Pacquiao never fought at bantamweight. After losing the WBC flyweight title to Medgoen Singsurat via third-round KO in 1999, Pacquiao jumped all the way up to junior featherweight in his next bout later that year. His age at the time: 21.
Pacquiao has thus had plenty of years to build himself up to welterweight. Donaire doesn?t have that luxury. Although he is often described as ?huge? for his weight class, his ease at making 118 at the age of 28 suggests that it would not be a good idea to pack on too many more pounds. Lightweight may be about as high as Donaire can go without overburdening his physique.
It is, then, unlikely that Donaire will match Pacquiao?s record of winning titles in eight divisions. But that?s no reason for Nonito to feel unfulfilled. If he defeats the winner of the upcoming Abner Mares-Joseph Agbeko contest, he will go down in history as one of the greatest of all bantamweights. That?s hardly small potatoes.
Donaire?s icing of Montiel is definitely Nonito?s ?Manny moment.? But it is also the moment in which Donaire took a big step out of the long shadow his countryman casts.
Charles R. Saunders is the author of several books including Sweat and Soul: The Saga of Black Boxers in the Maritimes from the Halifax Forum to Caesars Palace, as well as the Imaro series of fantasy/adventure novels. Considered by many to be one of the leading authorities on boxing in Canada, he is the current Vice-President of Boxing for the Society of North American Sports Historians and Researchers.
