By Chris Robinson
Things are pretty sweet now for Nonito Donaire Jr.
After a few frustrating years of being unable to lure himself a high-profile match inside of a prize ring, the 28-year old seems set for a February 19th bout with WBC and WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. Donaire’s emotions of course are also heightened because of the electric fashion in which he disposed of former champion Wladimir Sidorenko last night at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California.
Following his victory, one in which he dropped his Ukrainian foe three times in registering a 4th round stoppage, Donaire was all smiles in his dressing room as he celebrated with his team. Trainer Robert Garcia has worked with Donaire as a strategist for his last three bouts and joked that after seeing such a dominant display from the Filipino, that Montiel may end up sick in an attempt to evade such a dangerous proposition.
Asked if he was serious with his claims, Garcia shook his head and chalked up it as simple banter.
“You know what?” Garcia asked. “I know Montiel is a true warrior. He’s proven that. He went to Japan and beat a great champion. We were just joking around. He’s a true Mexican warrior and I respect him for that.”
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Donaire has always been a pleasure to watch because at times he seems to fight so effortlessly while breaking the mold of anything typical with his unorthodox style. Garcia insists he is a special kind of fighter and that his focus was kicked up a notch because of what lied ahead.
“His talent is just unbelievable,” Garcia said. “His dedication, especially to this fight, was amazing. In the ring and he was just so happy to be [through this] because he knows he has the big fight after. It was just big motivation for him.”
Much was made during the lead up to this fight because it marked Donaire’s first foray into the bantamweight division. Previously he had struggled to make weight at 115 pounds and before that 112 and Garcia feels that when all is said and done that we will see him rise again.
“I think he is eventually going to end up where he belongs,” Garcia pointed out. “He had trouble making 115 and he made 118 fine. Three pounds higher wasn’t that much of a difference. I think at 122 is where he is going to be best.”
On the undercard of last night’s In Harm’s Way event Robert’s younger brother Mikey delivered a solid performance in stopping once-beaten Canadian transplant Olivier Lontchi in five rounds. There were rumors circulating ringside that Garcia could be in line to face Juan Manuel Lopez in Las Vegas sometime next year and while Robert fully believes in his brother’s abilities he doesn’t think a few more fights would hurt either.
“I believe he showed he can match up with any of those fighters out there,” Garcia said of Mikey’s TKO win. “But he has a great promoter and they do their job. We are in no rush. My brother is 22 years old and he’s still a baby. We have plenty of time. We’d like to get one or two fights before that and then we’d be ready.”
Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. An archive of his work can be found here, and he can be reached at Trimond@aol.com
