By Jake Donovan
Nonito Donaire's return to the junior featherweight division has come at the best possible time.
It's not just because of his recent triumph. That he drilled journeyman William Prado in two rounds on Saturday was to be expected - the fight was his first back at 122 lbs., and the likelihood of ever facing a viable threat under such circumstances were minimal at best.
Still, the knockout win in Manila - his first fight in Philippines since 2009 - paves the way for big business down the road. While no title was at stake, Donaire will be moved into a title shot likely before year's end.
Despite the absence of a competitive fight - or the possibility of one - Donaire treated the event as if his career was at stake. Complete with six-pack abs and throwing punches with knockout intentions, it was all business for the former four-division champ.
Prado was overmatched and well aware of this fact, but the visiting challenger from Mexico did his best to make a fight of it. A moral victory can be found in the fact that he never hit the canvas, although he was repeatedly wobbled, to the point where it was clear he was unable to fend for himself as the fight was stopped late in round two.
For Donaire, it's his first win at 122 lbs. since capping a 2012 Fighter of the Year campaign with a three-round beatdown of Jorge Arce in Dec. '12. His previous win netted the vacant lineal junior featherweight championship, a crown he ultimately conceded to Guillermo Rigondeaux in April '13.
The loss was met with the decision to move up in weight, but it was clear from the jump that Donaire was never suited to run with the big dogs at featherweights. A come-from-behind effort was required in his Nov. '13 late knockout win over Vic Darchinyan, whom he'd iced in five rounds to win the flyweight title more than six years prior.
His technical decision win over Simpiwe Vetyeka last May produced a short-lived reign, which ended in a violent knockout loss to unbeaten Nicholas Walters last October.
With the decision to move back down in weight, Donaire could find himself fighting for a title well before year's end.
The NABF regional title at stake was made available merely for the purpose of securing the 32-year old a favorable ranking with the WBC. Its current titlist is unbeaten Leo Santa Cruz, who will likely vacate and move up in weight in the near future, be it for a showdown with Abner Mares or even Jhonny Gonzalez should he get past Gary Russell Jr. later this evening in Las Vegas.
With the vacant title would come the need for a vacant title fight. The top-rated contender is Mexico's Hugo Ruiz, who has been adamant in his quest to claim "the green and gold belt." Ranked one spot below is Japan's Shingo Wake, who is lined up for a title eliminator with the IBF in June. The moment that fight is executed, his favorable WBC ranking will disappear, likely going to Donaire.
While Saturday's win over Prado didn't really reveal just exactly how much Donaire physically has left, it lays the foundation for one more championship run.
The bout served as the chief support - even as the more celebrated attraction - to Donnie Nietes' 9th round stoppage of Gilberto Parra in his junior flyweight title defense.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
