Nonito Donaire: Filipino Flash Defends Title Saturday Night – Boxing News

By Geno McGahee

The other popular Filipino champion, Nonito Donaire, 26-1, 18 KO’s, returns to the ring this Saturday night to take on the undefeated Omar Andres Narvaez, 35-0, 19 KO’s, in a 12 round bout.

Donaire is widely considered one of the best fighters in the game today, and is currently fighting out of the shadow of fellow countryman, Manny Pacquiao. In a show of explosive power, Donaire leveled Fernando Montiel, knocking him cold in two rounds. It is still a candidate for KO of the year and became the biggest moment of his career thus far, even bigger than his upset stoppage of Vic Darchinyan.

Across the ring from him is Narvaez, a fighter that has not been defeated and has recently stepped up the level of opposition. He has gone the full 12 rounds in his last four fights and may not have the punch to keep Donaire off of him. That is the question going into this fight on Saturday. Is Narvaez skilled enough and gritty enough to outwork Donaire and endure the incoming?

For Donaire, this is another moment to move forward as the career of Pacquiao comes to an end. He could fill the big shoes that are left behind by the PacMan and have some very big showdowns, including an eventual mega fight with Yuriorkis Gamboa. That is down the road, but if both fighters stay on track, they could meet in a very high profile fight.