When Nonito Donaire knocked out the cocky smack talking Vic Darchinyan I became an instant fan. Nobody likes a bully so when the brash and arrogant Darchinyan was cracked to sleep by the Filipino Flash he gained instant respect. Nonito Donaire is a tremendous fighter with movie star looks and a personality that will grab the boxing mainstream.
Last Saturday Donaire struck again. This time he knocked out the then world champion Fernando Montiel. It was another counter left hook that would end the night, a perfectly time punch that would send the former champ to the ground, with legs twitching.
Ironically Donaire just like the king Manny Pacquiao is from the Philippines. With his impressive knockout wins over Darchinyan and now Montiel, he has positioned himself to take the torch. Manny Pacquiao isn’t done with his career just yet, but he’s not getting any younger. Donaire in this writer?s opinion has all of the tools to carry the sport just like Pacquiao has been doing.
The pound for pound king list used to be pretty easy. It was basically the two guys at the top, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Sergio Martinez has been in the third spot especially after he put Paul Williams to sleep. Now you have to consider Nonito Donaire as a top 3 pound for pound candidate.
The Philippines certainly has another fighter to be very proud of in Nonito Donaire. A young good looking superstar with fast hands and one punch knockout power. That will certainly sell tickets both on PPV fights in the future, and in the seats at the venues.
I spoke to a few Mississippi boxing fans about the emergence of Nonito Donaire. I spoke to Keith Darwin of Canton, MS who is a big Manny Pacquiao fan. Keith likes what he sees in the young Donaire, ” I have been following Donaire for a few years now. When he knocked out Darchinyan he showed me a lot. Pacquiao will retire in a few years and Donaire is the perfect person to take over for him.”
Nonito Donaire will have a huge 2011 and 2012 it’s just a matter of time before we see just how big this young champion can get.
