Nonito Donaire: Picking up Where Manny Pacquiao Left Off
By Rodell Bautista
(Rodell Bautista is our newest Feature Writer at RSR. I, along with the rest of the team, welcome him aboard!)
On February 19 Nonito Donaire made a statement. He made a huge statement. With one perfectly executed counter left hook, Donaire defeated Fernando Montiel and simultaneously served notice to the boxing world that he is a true pound for pound contender.
The awe inspiring fashion in which Donaire knocked out Montiel not only earned him the WBC and WBO Bantamweight Titles, but whetted the appetites of the boxing community.
In his post fight interview HBO’s Max Kellerman asked what lies ahead for Donaire, “Now you can stick around and beat up the bantamweights and the junior bantamweights as you’ve been doing your whole career, your only loss coming during your second pro fight, essentially undefeated. Or you could move up and target some bigger and better game Juan Manuel Lopez and Gamboa come to mind, they’ve been talked about for each other, but what about for you?”
“I think that I want to be undisputed in this weight class, and if that doesn’t happen I’ve got my trust and faith in (manager) Cameron Dunkin, and if that’s at 122 let’s go, if that’s 126 let’s go !” Donaire quickly and aptly responded.
It is now known that Donaire will face WBA Bantamweight Title holder Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno on May 28, 2011, which will bring him one step closer to becoming the undisputed bantamweight champion of the world. The last piece of the puzzle of course will be the winner of Showtime’s bantamweight tournament for the vacant IBF title, which is being contested between Abner Mares and Joseph Agbeko on April 23, 2011.
Donaire should easily handle Moreno who does hold the title as well as a sparkling record of 30 wins and 1 loss. However Chemito lacks the power and speed to really give Donaire any trouble having only 10 knockouts during his career. When you look at their last common opponent Volodymyr Sydorenko, Moreno struggled to a split decision victory while Donaire totally dismantled the Ukrainian in 4 rounds leaving him a gruesome, bloody mess.
The way it all shapes up, a unification bout with the winner of the IBF tournament could be set up for the fall of this year, but more likely only if Agbeko who is promoted by Don King is the victor, as Mares is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and as we all know Top Rank who promotes Donaire and Golden Boy are not doing any co promotions currently and will continue to avoid doing business for the fore see-able future. (We can get into detail about that travesty at a later date). If Mares wins than it is pretty much certain that Donaire will move up for maybe one fight at 122 pounds as the talent pool of worthy opponents at 122 pounds is scarce.
The featherweight division is where Donaire will finally face a plethora of worthy challengers, and the most formidable foes. Fortunately for fight fans two of the fighters at the top of the featherweight food chain Juan Manuel Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa are both managed by Top Rank, which ultimately means that matches between these three fighters is quite possible. If there has been a criticism of Donaire it’s been the lack of top flight opposition he’s faced, which honestly has been unwarranted, because of the lack of talent in the lower divisions. Donaire can’t help it if he’s that much better than everyone. At featherweight there are no excuses.
What is most compelling to me is what the potential magnitude of these fights would be. What stands out is the parallel you can draw between Manny Pacquiao’s rise to stardom in the deep 126lb and 130lb divisions, when he earned his nickname as “the Mexecutioner”, and the Filipino Flash’s opportunity to make the same type of splash. The hype and expectations that both Gamboa and Lopez have garnered on the pound for pound scene are undeniable. Combine that with Donaire’s meteoric rise to #3 on The Ring’s pound for pound list, and boxing could be in for quite a ride, and Donaire might be the captain of the ship.
By now we’ve all read about the inevitable comparisons to Manny Pacquiao, and there is no doubt that the hype and attention Nonito Donaire has received was made possible in large part to the Pacman’s success, but I must make this ultimate comparison. What catapulted Pacquiao to superstar status was his domination of the 126lb and 130lb division and his epic wars with battle tested future hall of famers like Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and of course Juan Manuel Marquez. Lopez and Gamboa aren’t at that level yet, but if he can keep winning at featherweight like he has his whole career, and in the same fashion, like Manny Pacquiao did, then my friends we will have our next boxing superstar ability.
Donaire possesses speed and power like Pacquiao does, with one punch knockout of the year type of power. Where Pacquiao lacked in ability Donaire has in spades. Pacquiao was one dimensional when he was the Mexecutioner, and had to adapt and develop a right hand and movement. Donaire already has lateral movement, defensive elusiveness, ring generalship to go along with his offensive prowess. Donaire seems more ready to take on the boxing world, but what may be the biggest difference for Donaire and for boxing is the fact that he is Filipino-American and not only has honed his boxing skill State side, but is an eloquent humble speaker who most importantly the American public can relate to. Just that simple fact gives Donaire the ability to become a bigger star in the US than Manny Pacquiao is.
But we’re getting ahead of our selves a little. Nonito Donaire is a gifted fighter who possesses one of the best counter left hooks in the business. Just ask Vic Darchinyan and Fernando Montiel. If Donaire can keep winning and moving up in weight his future will definitely be bright, and maybe just maybe he will be the next great boxing superstar.