The boxing community has known about Nonito Donaire, but on Saturday, when he battles Fernando Montiel for the WBC and WBO bantamweight titles (live on HBO at 9:45 p.m. ET), the 28-year-old has a chance to step into the mainstream and show the world that Manny Pacquiao is not the only top-flight fighter from the Philippines.
“Man, I’m just excited,” Donaire said. “I’ve been looking forward to this fight for the longest time. This is definitely the biggest fight of my career. I actually got in shape really early for this fight. Now that it’s just a few more days away, I’m like, I’m ready for this fight. I’m really ready for this fight.”
Donaire has amassed a 25-1 record, the one loss coming in only his second professional bout. He has won the IBF, IBO, WBA and NABF super flyweight titles. His signature win came in 2007, when he knocked out champion Vic Darchinyan in the fifth round, earning him Ring Magazine nods for “Knockout of the Year” and “Upset of the Year.”
Even that fight does not compare to this one. That one may have come from left field, but Donaire is an upset contender no more, and he knows Montiel will be ready for him. Seventeen of Donaire’s victories have come by way of knockout, but he admits the man he faces in just over a week has similar power.
“He has good power. Aside from that, I have every advantage over him except for experience,” Donaire said. “I think that the power is there, and that’s what makes him him. Not only that he’s been champion for a bit, but he has tremendous power — power where you can’t make a mistake.”
Montiel cannot make mistakes either or he may be on the canvas. In Donaire’s last two fights, he has scored five knockdowns, including three in his most recent fight, a fourth-round stoppage of Wladimir Sidorenko to claim the vacant WBC Continental Americas bantamweight Title.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has compared Donaire, and favorably, to Pacquiao, a Top Rank fighter. Stylistically, the two do not share a ton of similarities. Ironically, Donaire is trained by Robert Garcia, who also trained Antonio Margarito for his fight with Pacquiao last year. Some boxers may shrug off or be offended by such comparisons, but Donaire says Pacquiao has been one of his inspirations.
“Well, for me, I’m honored to be compared to a great fighter like Manny,” he said. “I do my best. It doesn’t matter if they compare me to Manny my entire career, as long as they’re proud of what I’ve done and the satisfaction is there for me. I’m doing whatever I can to reach the top and if people compare me to him, as long as you compare me to a great fighter, I’m all good.”
Donaire will be even better if he comes out victorious against Montiel. He believes his intense training and focus will give the fans what they want to see Saturday night in Las Vegas.
“They can expect the best Nonito Donaire, mentally, physically, speed, power, it’s going to be there. That’s what I’m going to try to bring out there in that ring.”
The end goal?
“Try to destroy Montiel.”
