His lofty world ranking notwithstanding, Nonito Donaire is still a hungry fighter.
The eight-month layoff in between tomorrow?s fight and Donaire?s last makes him even fiercer. And with his quest for recognition and honor as motivations, Donaire is a dangerous predator when he faces Argentinean Omar Narvaez for what will be his last fight as a bantamweight.
Always fighting under the shadow of big men, the Filipino-born US immigrant hopes to find himself the center of boxing conversation someday, similar to what his fellow Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao is now enjoying.
At 28 years old, Donaire is barely on his peak and has still many boxing years ahead of him.
His built is primed to conquer the middle divisions in the sports where putting one to sleep and inflicting the most legal damage are the orders of the day. He possesses one of the most lethal left hooks in the business and he could be one of the slickest boxers in all of boxing today.
Yet, Donaire still has to carry on his own a boxing card on major pay per view (PPV).
It was this hunger for recognition that led Donaire to once severe his ties with Bob Arum?s Top Rank Promotion. Donaire thought he was not given his fair share as a marquee fighter. He felt other younger fighters were given more exposure ahead of him.
With some of Arum?s prot?g?s falling on the wayside, Donaire is finally getting the big breaks he long has been yearning for.
He is up against an undefeated veteran fighter in Narvaez but still enjoys the prohibitive favorite tag.
So much so that talks have somewhat centered on who he might fight next after defending his world bantamweight title for the first and last time.
Narvaez is a perfect fit for Donaire?s style ? durable but not really a potent puncher. The 36-year old Argentinean is smaller and a southpaw a sucker for Donaire?s left hooks.
Stamina is not a problem for both boxers as they have shown past abilities to go the distance.
It is a matter of who is able to impose his will over the other.
With Donaire?s power punches and height advantage, Narvaez should be the one looking to crowd the defending bantamweight champion. But boxing is a sports that ?ain?t over until it is really over.? The last thing one can do is take an aging champion ? an undefeated at that ? for granted.
Donaire fully knows what are at stakes. A devastating loss could derail, even put an end, plans to become the next toast of boxing.
Donaire needs to climb the ring as the hungry tiger that has not eaten his meal for a long time. He needs to prove he can walk the talk. That he deserves the break that went Pacquiao?s way.
He needs to knock out Narvaez.
