By Gary Purfield
Nonito Donaire has been on pound for pound lists for several years now but other than the knockout of Vic Darchinyan he did not have defining victories to go along with his obvious talent. Donaire now has another definitive victory over another top fighter.
Donaire stepped into the ring against WBC and WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel looking to make a statement. Montiel is a top notch fighter and a veteran with titles in three weight classes. Montiel also has one punch KO power most recently demonstrated when he knocked out Hozumi Hasegawa in Japan with a devastating left hook.
Donaire made his statement early and with a resonating thunder that will be heard all over the boxing world. Donaire seemed intent on getting aggressive with power from the start. He exuded confidence in his ring entrance. From the opening bell he fired power shots with speed and bad intentions.
In round two as Montiel stepped in landing a straight right Donaire countered with a thunderous left hook off the temple that Montiel never saw. The Mexican champ hit the canvas and his legs were convulsively shaking. Somehow Montiel got up before the count of ten and maybe more surprising the referee Russell Mora allowed the fight to continue. Donaire charged in, landed two punches, Montiel still whirling from the knockdown this time Mora jumped in and stopped the fight.
The official end came by TKO at two minutes and twenty five seconds of the second round. With the referee stopping in to save Montiel, Donaire began an exuberant celebration running around the ring and leaping atop the ropes. Donaire said afterwards that he had previously predicted a second round knockout.
Going in nobody truly knew how this fight would play out because so many possibilities existed. Both fighters have good chins and stamina to fight hard for twelve rounds. But, both also have thudding knockout power which made a knockout at any point a possibility. I am not sure anyone saw it ending that fast with that much authority. If someone did predict that more power to them.
Donaire, who improves to 26-1 (18 KO) now has multiple options open to him. The winner of Showtime’s bantamweight tournament final between Joseph Agbeko and Abner Mares would provide a showdown for undisputed champ of the bantamweight division. Of course if Abner Mares wins that means Golden Boy who has Mares and Top Rank who has Donaire would have to play nice to make the fight.
Donaire also could look to move up two weight classes to 126lbs where a deep talent pool awaits including Juan Manuel Lopez and Yuriokis Gamboa. Donaire appears to have the body to carry the weight comfortably and a showdown with either Lopez or Gamboa would be a huge fight and pay day for Donaire.
Donaire who is now WBO and WBC bantamweight champion commented after that he would like to be undisputed in the weight class. He also stated if that is not available he trusts his manger Cameron Dunkin when referring to moving up in weight.
Montiel who drops to 43-3-2 (33 KO) was taken to the dressing room to be examined and hopefully is okay after taking such a big punch he never saw coming.
In winning in such impressive fashion Donaire not only cements his place on the P4P lists but becomes must see TV every time he fights. It is not often a young talent comes along with such skill, speed, power, and ring intelligence. Donaire looks as if he will make a fast climb in popularity because he provides everything a boxing fan wants to see in top level fights. The Filipino Flash looks more and more like his beloved countryman Manny Pacquiao who sits atop the P4P list and is on top of boxing world in drawing power as well. Donaire has a long road to reaching what Pac Man has accomplished but he took a big step tonight.
Question, comment, agree, disagree, or anything at all, send it to gpurf3@hotmail.com
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