We saw featherweights Nonito Donaire and Nicholas Walters in the same ring, albeit and hour apart, just 11 months ago in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Donaire had to come from behind as he knocked out a past-prime Vic Darchinyan in the ninth round of a long-awaited rematch. That was the night Mikey Garcia took the WBA super-featherweight title from Roman Martinez and rising junior middleweight Demetrius Andrade soundly outboxed Vanos Martirosyan.
And yet for many, Walters was the most impressive fighter on the card. Granted, his fourth-round knockout victim was the undistinguished Alberto Garza. But to stand out in such a distinguished crowd obviously means something. Even then it seemed inevitable that Donaire, who grew up in San Leandro and divides his residency among San Mateo, Las Vegas and the Philippines these days, would have to reckon with this up-and-coming Jamaican.
That comes to pass Saturday on HBO at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.
Knowing that Walters subsequently dispatched Darchinyan more impressively than did Donaire has made him a formidable obstacle indeed for the Filipino Flash, who in his most recent bout suffered a first-round eye wound from an accidental head butt from Simpiwe Vetyeka and needed a fourth-round knockdown to become the winner when the May 31 bout was stopped after four rounds and went to the scorecards.
“Confident fighters are dangerous fighters. I know that,? Donaire said Wednesday at a news conference. ?But there were other fighters who said before a fight they were stronger than me, hit harder, were going to knock me out.? Darchinyan (2007, 2013) and bantamweight star Fernando Montiel (2011) were prominent examples.
“Walters is a good champion but really how many quality fights has he been in compared to where I have been in my career??
Still, Donaire (33-2, 21 knockouts) is coming off three less than dynamite performances, counting his April 2013 loss to Guillermo Rigondeaux, which makes it seem that the formerly great flyweight champion, who subsequently also won titles at bantamweight and super-bantamweight, has not fought with the same brilliance since he moved up to 126 pounds last year.
It should be noted, however, that the Vetyeka match gained Donaire the lineal title, the WBA title Vetyeka won from Chris John in 2013.
Walters also has a WBA belt at stake (don?t ask). With a 24-0 record and 20 knockouts, he has overwhelmed everyone in his path and will have to try the same approach against Donaire.
Walters may be guilty of faulty reasoning. ?We both have speed and power,? he said Wednesday ?The difference is intelligence.? Presumably he means that?s an advantage for him, but others feel intelligence is Donaire?s No. 1 asset in a bout that?s considered a toss-up.
Although Walters? aggressive attitude increases Donaire?s chances of catching him with his signature counter left hook, Donaire has seemed hittable since he turned 30, and it?s not a lead-pipe cinch he can fend off Walters, who is a tad taller and has a five-inch reach advantage.
Walters has shown some defensive liabilities in his career despite middling opposition, so this match is a great barometer of how much longer Donaire will be an elite fighter.
It?s a chance to look his best for Donaire, and he?d better take advantage of it.
