Nonito Donaire?s attempt at claiming the vacant WBO junior featherweight title will be watched intently by many observers tonight as he meets up with former champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. in San Antonio, Texas in an HBO showcase.
Donaire?s stock has steadily risen over the past few years and despite a bumpy 2011 that saw him caught up in a promotional snafu with promoters Top Rank and Golden Boy, there?s no denying his talent or star appeal.
One man who isn?t shy about heaping praise upon Donaire is Sergio Martinez, the lineal middleweight champion of the world. Speaking through his friend and translator Marcelo Crudele recently from his training camp in Oxnard, California, where he is preparing for a March 17th assignment against the United Kingdom’s Matthew Macklin, Martinez went as far as to say that Donaire would eventually rule as the sport?s number one fighter.
?I don?t have any doubt about that, that Nonito Donaire, even before I retire, Donaire is going to be the best, pound for pound,? Martinez claimed.
Pressed for reasons as to why he is so smitten with the 29-year old Fil-Am star, Martinez stated his case.
?Not only physical, he is very quick, has fast hands and power on his punches,? said Martinez of Donaire. ?And he has extraordinary intelligence.?
Just as quickly, however, Martinez then changed his tone when discussing Donaire?s countryman Manny Pacquiao, the reigning WBO welterweight champion of the world.
