MANILA, Philippines — Hounded by numerous distractions left and right, Nonito Donaire, Jr. has his eyes fixed on the prize as his “biggest day” to date inches closer — a February 19 dance with unified bantamweight titlist Fernando Montiel at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“This is the biggest fight of my career at this time,” said Donaire, as quoted by Robert Morales from the Boxing Scene website, who sports a 25 win, 1-loss card that includes 17 victories via stoppage. “I’m fighting a guy who has been there for a while.”
“This guy (Montiel) can be a Hall of Famer when he’s done with boxing. His only defeats are to guys who were world champions,” added Donaire, referring to Montiel’s two lone setbacks against Mark Johnson (majority decision in 2003) and Jhonny Gonzales (split decision in 2006).
Now in the thick of his preparations in San Carlos, California, the 28-year-old Donaire is confident that winning against the much heralded Mexican warrior, that is Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KOs), will put him on top with the best of his class, thus offering him more opportunities in the near future.
“This is one of the best things that would give me all the confidence, that I belong in here and belong with the top guys [when I beat this guy]” said Donaire, who, with his brutal domination of Wladimir Sidorenko of Ukraine last December, hiked his amazing winning run to 24 in a span of 9 ½ years, including a sensational one-punch knockout of Armenian-born brawler Vic Darchinyan in July 2007.
“I think that the big boys will notice what I’m capable of, what I bring to the table, what I bring to the audience,” he said. “I think it will definitely get my name out there as one of the elite. There will be no more doubters left out there if I get past Montiel.”
Donaire was actually on the same situation when he went up against Darchinyan more than 3 years ago. Most observed had him as the underdog going into the fight, simply because of the dominant fashion that Darchinyan was putting up against his past opponents.
But everything changed when he let out that vicious hook in the fifth round, which sent the loud-mouthed Darchinyan planting his face on the canvas and Donaire’s corner erupting in jubilation afterwards.
Top Rank big boss and Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum, who handles the Donaire-Montiel bout, could not agree more with the Filipino’s insight.
“I think [a win] would establish him as the best bantamweight in the world, having beaten a Hall of Fame Fighter,” said Arum, adding that a vast opportunity awaits for Donaire should he emerge unscathed against the heavy-handed Montiel.
source: mb.com.ph/
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