Montiel: Beating Donaire Will Be a Triumph For Mexico

By Ernesto Castellanos, notifight.com

Los Mochis, Mexico - WBO/WBC bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel is in the middle of training camp for his next title defense on February 19 against Nonito Donaire in Las Vegas. Donaire is the betting favorite to win. Montiel has promised to upset the odds.

"It does not concern me that Donaire is the favorite here. It is not the first time where that's happened and I destroyed the forecasts.  Last year when I went to Japan against Hozumi Hasegawa, he was a 3-1 favorite and nevertheless I knocked him out and removed his WBC championship," Montiel said. 

"Donaire has been seen impressive in many of his fights, but you have to take a look at who he faced. He has not taken a lot of punches and I am sure that he's never been in the ring with a fighter on my level.  We are going to see if he can continue to look impressive." 

"For an opponent like Donaire, whom I respect and consider a magnificent fighter, I have a plan of attack because I know him, but I also two or three variants to execute in the fight, depending on what he does."

Montiel expressed that Donaire will be his final fight in the bantamweight division. Montiel is training under the direction of his family members, Manuel Montiel and brothers Pedro and Eduardo.  He is sparring with Tomoki Kameda, Alejandro López and Jorge Lacierva.  For the second phase of camp, arriving for the purpose of sparring will be David Gaspar and another boxer who's name is not being revealed.

"I expect to give Mexican boxing a great triumph. This fight is going to paralyze the boxing world," Montiel said.