The Pacquiao-like performance of Nonito Donaire, Jr. against the battle-tested and now ex-champ Fernando Montiel in Las Vegas last weekend speaks a lot about the politics of boxing. Here you have a pound-for-pound challenger in Donaire going against a possible pound-for-pound candidate and current champion in Montiel.
Donaire was going up in weight, looking for his best shot that could catapult him to boxing superstardom. Montiel ? who never lost a bout in five years and was never KTFO?d – was willing ?to die in the ring?, hoping to cement his legacy as one of Mexico?s proud sons.
Well, we all know the result.
Donaire launched a perfectly-timed counter left hook that landed in-between the champ?s chin and temple, sending the champ on the canvass, his legs twitching and then got up and fought back only for the referee to step in and stop the bout in the second round. Seeing the champ hitting his head on the canvass and then twitiching for probably 5 seconds sent shiver to my spine and made me conclude how dangerous this sport is.
It was laudable that Montiel got up and fought back only to be hit again twice in the head before the referee called it quits. The referee was definitely wrong to let Montiel continue the fight. He was probably hoping that the champ will last the round and come back the next. He was a referee thinking like a die-hard fan. Bad mix. Maybe the commission will investigate his judgment and give him a stern warning, if not take away his licence to referee a fight in Vegas.
Nonito Donaire, Jr. is now a confirmed superstar and should command heftier purses in his next fight. Much like Pacquiao when he sent Barrera to the canvass several times in their first fight in 2003. The only problem is that Nonito does not have a big-name opponent in the 118-pound division. The other champs in IBF and WBA are relatively unknowns.
If he goes up to super bantamweight (122 lbs) landscape, the scene is almost barren. What?s waiting in the featherweight (126 lbs) division however, are the likes of Yuriorkis Gamboa and Juan Manuel Lopez, considered lords of the ring. These individuals not only bring in the crowd and the dollars but also elite fighters who can knock Donaire out in a flash.
Recently Juan Manuel Lopez issued a warning to Donaire to stay away from the division. I think the guy is right. Lopez and Gamboa are both at the height of their powers and Donaire having a shot at either of these guys anytime soon mean he?d have to blow himself up to take on them.
But maybe this is where Victor Conte proves his worth as Donaire?s chief nutritionist. If he can bring Donaire to a physical stature – sans the allegedly designer steroid drugs ? enough to challenge either of the two fighters, then maybe Donaire will have a chance. And I?d peg it at that. If, and when, Donaire will rise to the occasion and win this fight, his Pacquiao-like stature will rise further and he could probably retire at the age of 30. But those two fights are very, very dangerous and Donaire might be taking on something more than he can chew.
Well, Donaire Jr stated that he wants to be the undisputed bantamweight champ. I believe him without any trace of doubt. Right now, his caliber is way on top against the likes of Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares. If his work ethic continues and himself remains on focus, he can secure the other belts as well without much trepidation. And then test the waters at the super bantamweight division as well before taking on Gamboa or Lopez.
But I look forward to the day, though, when Nonito will face Juan Manuel Lopez. The creme de la creme of 126-pound division is worth the risk. Maybe in two years. The purses will have skyrocketted that Donaire?s better-half known as Rachel can lock down the Rodeo Drive so she can go shopping by herself.
