Montiel, Donaire battle for supremacy

By Dan Rafael
ESPN.com

LAS VEGAS -- The fight poster that adorns the light boxes throughout Mandalay Bay advertises the much-anticipated showdown between unified bantamweight titleholder Fernando Montiel and top-10 pound-for-pound fighter Nonito Donaire. Near the top, above their photos and under the words "World Championship," the poster reads, in big, bold letters: "Mexico vs. The Philippines."

Besides crowning the top bantamweight in the world, the fight at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday night (HBO, 9:45 ET/PT) is all about nationalistic pride in the latest installment of a growing rivalry between the boxing-mad countries.

"This fight between Nonito Donaire and Fernando Montiel -- everybody who follows boxing knows it will be a great fight, but the interesting thing for me about this fight [is] the countries where these fighters come from, the Philippines and Mexico," Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said. "There is almost frenzy about this fight. I was informed that in the Philippines there are two one-hour [television] specials promoting the fight, and they are expecting a huge audience on Sunday morning, which is their time equivalent of when the fight will be aired.

"In Mexico, there is tremendous anticipation and great media coverage. It is my hope that the enthusiasm that is coming from the Philippines and Mexico permeates in the United States, that people that follow boxing and casual sports fans watch this fight on HBO because it truly will be a great fight for the sport of boxing."

In the co-feature, Philadelphia welterweight Mike Jones (23-0, 18 KOs) meets Mexico's Jesus Soto-Karass (24-5-3, 16 KOs) in a rematch of Jones' majority decision win on Nov. 13 on the pay-per-view undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito fight at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

One of boxing's greatest rivalries has been Mexico-Puerto Rico, which has produced numerous classics in recent decades. But the Mexico-Philippines rivalry is newer. It has its roots in pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao's rise to the top of the sport over the past several years.

Although there have been recent title matches between Filipinos and Mexicans -- the Philippines' Gerry Penalosa against Jhonny Gonzalez and Daniel Ponce De Leon, for example -- it has been Pacquiao who has rolled over one Mexican after another, leading many to dub him "The Mexecutioner."

Just look at the list of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans whom Pacquiao has beaten, mostly in utterly dominant fashion: Antonio Margarito, Oscar De La Hoya, David Diaz, Marco Antonio Barrera (twice), Jorge Solis, Oscar Larios and Hector Velazquez. And Pacquiao is also 1-0-1 against Juan Manuel Marquez and 2-1 against Erik Morales.

Montiel is well-aware of Pacquiao's dominant record against his countrymen and is looking for a little get-back, even if it comes against a friend. Montiel and Donaire, who used to train together, are buddies outside the ring.

"Definitely, with Pacquiao fighting so many Mexicans, he created this rivalry," Montiel said through translator Ricardo Jimenez of Top Rank following Thursday's final news conference. "I look forward to fighting a good Filipino fighter. I want to get even for all the ones Pacquiao has beaten. So I want to get in there and get some wins for us."

Donaire, of course, hopes to continue the dominance of Pacquiao, his boxing idol.

"[The rivalry is] good news for boxing," Donaire said. "Me and Montiel are good friends, but in that ring we are proud of who we are, me being a Filipino and Montiel being a Mexican. We are proud of who we are. The rivalry is healthy for boxing. It's good for boxing. The Mexican fighters are our biggest rival."

Said Montiel: "I know the rivalry is getting better as [the Filipino] fighters are getting better. There is a little extra motivation there. I think both countries, the Philippines and Mexico, want to see their guys win. They are both behind their fighters, and a victory for either side would be important."

If Pacquiao is the No. 1 Filipino fighter -- and there is no doubt about that -- then Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs), who moved to the San Francisco Bay area when he was 10, is clearly No. 2.

"The face of boxing today is Manny Pacquiao and he comes for the Philippines, but right behind him in the Philippines is a man who comes from the same city as Pacquiao, General Santos, and is becoming more and more endeared to the Philippine fans," Arum said of Donaire.

Montiel (43-2-2, 33 KOs), one of five Mexican fighters to win world titles in three weight divisions, is Mexico's No. 2 active fighter behind lightweight champion Marquez.

Montiel would like to become the first Mexican to win a title in a fourth weight class. With a win against Donaire, he will consider looking to the junior featherweight division for the opportunity.

Montiel, 31, unified bantamweight belts last April when he went to Japan and, as the underdog, rallied for a fourth-round knockout of well-respected longtime titleholder Hozumi Hasegawa, who has since moved up in weight and claimed a featherweight belt.

But Donaire, 28, is another formidable opponent. The former flyweight titleholder lost his second pro fight in 2001 and hasn't lost since as he worked his way up the pound-for-pound list with several impressive victories, such as his flyweight title-winning knockout of Vic Darchinyan in 2007 and his fourth-round destruction of former bantamweight titlist Wladimir Sidorenko in December.

"He did impress me," Montiel said of Donaire's domination of Sidorenko. "He looked really great against Sidorenko, but I'm not Sidorenko. Sidorenko just stood there in front of him, and I think you have to take that into consideration too. I am not going to be standing in front of him. I'm going to be moving around and I'll be doing my job too. I think our styles match real well and it's going to be a good fight.

"He is obviously a fighter that has a lot of speed. He moves around the ring and is an intelligent fighter. The question to me is what is going to happen when he fights a guy that is just as intelligent, just as strong and just as good as he is? That is the question -- when he fights someone that is equal to him. I think it's the first time he will find a fighter that is just as good as he is."

While Montiel aspires to make Mexican boxing history by eventually winning a belt in a fourth weight class, Donaire aspires to the accomplishments of Pacquiao, who has won titles in a record eight weight classes.

Donaire won his first title at flyweight, the same division as Pacquiao.

"He is definitely an inspiration in my career -- an inspiration in boxing and how I want to be," Donaire said of Pacquiao. "I am inspired to see no impossibility. To get to 130 pounds or even more. To keep going. That's what he wants me to do, keep moving my feet to see how far I can go."

If Donaire wins, he said he also will probably move up in weight to try to get the most out of his ability and to continue his attempt at following in Pacquiao's footsteps.

He said he loves when he is mentioned along with Pacquiao.

"I embrace it. Manny Pacquiao is one of the greatest in the history of boxing," Donaire said. "What he has accomplished is incredible and beyond a lot of people. For me to even be compared to him or be [ranked] behind him, that's a great thing. That's an achievement.

"I'm going to try my best to win as many titles as I can. Manny keeps me hungry, he keeps me going, and it keeps me motivated to keep fighting and seek the best out there and be the best."

And Donaire sure wouldn't mind if he fulfilled those goals against Mexican fighters.

Montiel eyes big KO vs Donaire

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Three-division boxing champion Fernando Montiel plans to knock out Filipino Nonito Donaire.

The “Filipino Flash” is favored in their bantamweight championship bout this Sunday, but this doesn't bother the Mexican champion. He knows what he can do.

In his 14 years as a professional boxer, Montiel has had 44 wins, 34 of them by knockout. He also has 2 losses and 2 draws.

Against Donaire, the Mexican is looking for another spectacular victory, nothing less than a knockout.

Last year, Montiel knocked out Filipino Ciso Morales in the first round.

He also KO'd Japanese Hozumi Hasegawa in front of his hometown crowd.

Montiel worked out Monday evening at the Top Rank Gym in Las Vegas, showing good hands speed and moving with a lot of confidence.

The Mexican says he is in top shape, both physically and mentally, for what he calls the most important fight of his career.

Donaire did half hour of roadwork Monday morning and is just as confident he can do damage on Montiel.
Nonito Donaire jogging under the hot Las Vegas sun.

Donaire says he goes to sleep visualizing what he will do come fight night. He also sees the Mexican going down.

"'Pag natutulog ako, nagti-twich and kamay ko eh," said the Filipino Flash.

"Mas magandang [maka-]knockout kasi more satisfying sa akin 'yun eh. Maganda yun kasi you'll have dalawang fighters na gustong knockout eh. So ang makikita sa laban na 'yun, action packed," he added.

Valentine’s Day in Las Vegas for Mr. and Mrs. Donaire was simple: a big bunch of red roses from hubby Nonito to wife Rachel.

With 5 days to go before the world title fight, training and preparation are still their number one priority.

Donaire and Montiel are reserving the big celebration after the fight.

source: bs-cbnNEWS.com

Life And Boxing: A Look Into Donaire Jr. Versus Montiel

When the time comes for you to step in you know you are in it on your own and all the people you trust for guidance are backed up behind you knowing what you must do once you get into that sacred place must be done by you and you alone. Nobody does the fighting for you. You step inside with the knowledge that one can only be as strong as the values upon which a man is built that have been gathered and molded from sacrifice. For life is a journey full of sacrifices, and the ideals you pick up along the way will be the only tools that’d get you through if you possess the knowledge and wisdom when and how to use them.

Boxing is about hard work and the boxing ring, like life itself is a lonely place when it matters most. Facing one’s true challenge in his finest hour may be a metaphor to meeting one’s creator where one succeeds by his own credit. It’s quite scary if you really think of it and your performance is a testament of who you are as a man and fighter. It’s how you make it. Boxing in a strange way is a reflection life.

If Floyd Mayweather Jr. is content that his undefeated record is enough to substantiate his boxing legacy, then so be it. It’s his life. It’s his call. If some other boxer out there picks a bigger purse over a chance for a crucial fight that could truly define his career no authority in the sport is ever going to stop him, after all this is why it’s called prizefighting. The fans may judge him harshly for such a decision and call him names, but technically there would be nothing wrong with it- technically. Technically, it’s all about career investment and setting your priorities straight. But what I’m saying is we, the fans, were hoping that one would have a higher standard than just living to the minimum and just standing safely few inches behind that thin line of legality. Like the many beloved boxers way back in the sport’s colorful past one could only hope more prizefighters nowadays would come forward to step up and declare themselves as being true warriors and take that ultimate challenge for a shot at greatness. After all, isn’t greatness an eternal prize beyond monetary value? In life, rather than basking in complacency, those who truly live are those who dare live to the fullest.

Perhaps it is for this reason that Pound 4 Pound numero uno, Manny Pacquiao is so popular and loved the world over. He keeps pushing himself beyond his known limits. This guy is just pushing it to the point of being scary at times fighting foes way much bigger than himself. It keeps the fans who watch him locked on their seats or feeling like they’re standing on the edge of a cliff. His life is like a movie but it’s real. It’s surreal. While some fighters out there stand behind potshotting negotiations to the bitter end or fighting lesser fights, this guy some have called a midget among other many names is breaking barriers, backing up bigger guys and subjecting them to a beat-down. Technically, for true fans of an action sport, how can one not love that?

Another fighter that’s been calling out the big names for quite some time just to force some action going his way is Filipino boxing star, Nonito Donaire Jr. While some fighters are afraid to fight him as I’ve previously written (check:Nonito Donaire Jr- A Bad Case of Being Too Good), Nonito, on the other hand, fights like he’s got nothing to lose. But this time it appears that all that name-calling and public challenges have finally paid off as Top Rank has scheduled him to face his truest test yet, the WBO and WBC Bantamweight champion from Sinaloa, Mexico, Fernando “Cochulito” Montiel on February 19, 2011.

Montiel has fought tough opposition to get to his current spot, even ending the five year terror reign of Japanese champion Hozumi Hasegawa in Tokyo, Japan. He is also ranked number seven in the world by The Ring Magazine. But it appears that Nonito Donaire Jr. would have none of that as he prepares for this fight and have just recently declared himself fit to go.

Montiel has proven himself to be a very stable fighter over the years. In all his fights he seems to always have that strength and power to overwhelm his opponents as he continuously stalks them, throwing accurate punches, loves to fight toe to toe. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him erratic whenever he steps in the ring. I think one of the reasons why he has so much power is because he plants his feet well on the ground that aid his strong upper body structure. He does not move around very well and performs his best against fighters who slug it out. The way I see it, Montiel is someone you wouldn’t want to stand in front of and trade punches with or he’ll throw you shots that are as hard as bricks.

Whatever the game plan Coach Robert Garcia has planned for this fight I think Nonito Donaire Jr. is capable of executing it very well. One key attribute about “The Filipino Flash” as a fighter is his versatility- a quality that’s likely to be highlighted to work toward his advantage when he faces a solid gladiator like Montiel. Whether they decide to use his height and range advantage, box him from a distance or blast him from within, the multi-faceted, highly skilled Nonito Donaire should be able to quickly shift in style if needed even on very short notice. He can quickly adapt to various situations. Montiel on the other hand is rock hard but seemingly limited in spite his stable nature. In fact, one might say he is efficient at what he does, but is quite predictable. You really wouldn’t expect to see him doing something different in terms of style. The key is to understand how he attacks and familiarize his reactions, and you might as well have gotten control over the fight. Of course, dominating him is another matter. Having control over the course of a fight, however, gives you a vital edge.

One of the few things I’ve noticed about Montiel is his tendency to commit mistakes with his footwork, which might seem minimal, nevertheless one should remember that being caught with a punch while stepping in with a wrong foot could easily put a fighter off-balance and easy to knockdown. Regardless if he gets hurt or merely thrown off-balance a knockdown is still a knockdown, and Donaire could take advantage of Montiel’s errors as Hasegawa did before Montiel’s power took the best of him. At times his right foot follows through each time he throws a right uppercut or a hard straight right hand leaving him in an odd position as if he intends to shift to Southpaw stance in the middle of an exchange, leaving him flatfooted. He fights in an awkward posture, sometimes looking like a throwback fighter from the old days that stand up straight as if calling for wicked body shots, not much bend on his knees, and has a habit of not tucking his chin at times. He may be strong and powerful but you’ll notice he does not have a snap-back with his jab which leaves him open for quick counters. Meanwhile, Nonito has that cunning ability to time his opponents. He is a wonderful counter-puncher naturally blessed with superb hand speed- all these on top of his overall versatility. I haven’t seen a Filipino fighter with such beautiful form and balance as him. Apart from being relatively tall for his division, he spreads out his stance, has beautiful placement that complements a swift footwork and long reach.

Technically, a perfect record easily tells you’re a winner. But the glory goes to the ones with heart.

By Mark F. Villanueva
PhilBoxing.com