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By Keith Idec - Three-and-a-half years have passed since the night Nonito Donaire’s devastating left hook knocked Vic Darchinyan silly.
He has won each of his seven fights since scoring that huge upset in Bridegport, Conn. Six of those victories have come by knockout and Donaire has secured a spot in the top 10 on virtually every pound-for-pound list.
Donaire has even earned a reputation as a “Mini-Manny,” a fighter whose popularity has grown in his native Philippines as he has developed into one of the most polished prizefighters in the world. Yet even “The Filipino Flash” feels as though he hasn’t capitalized enough on the Darchinyan win, largely because he spent so much time trying to arrange a rematch with Darchinyan that seemingly wasn’t meant to be.
Even without fighting Darchinyan again, Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs) feels as though there should’ve been bigger fights and more noteworthy wins on his resume over the past couple years. That’s what makes fighting Fernando Montiel a week from tonight in Las Vegas so important for the 28-year-old Donaire’s career.
If he overcomes Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KOs) in his first HBO main event, Donaire knows he’ll have recorded his biggest victory since he won Darchinyan’s IBF flyweight title. [Click Here To Read More]
He has won each of his seven fights since scoring that huge upset in Bridegport, Conn. Six of those victories have come by knockout and Donaire has secured a spot in the top 10 on virtually every pound-for-pound list.
Donaire has even earned a reputation as a “Mini-Manny,” a fighter whose popularity has grown in his native Philippines as he has developed into one of the most polished prizefighters in the world. Yet even “The Filipino Flash” feels as though he hasn’t capitalized enough on the Darchinyan win, largely because he spent so much time trying to arrange a rematch with Darchinyan that seemingly wasn’t meant to be.
Even without fighting Darchinyan again, Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs) feels as though there should’ve been bigger fights and more noteworthy wins on his resume over the past couple years. That’s what makes fighting Fernando Montiel a week from tonight in Las Vegas so important for the 28-year-old Donaire’s career.
If he overcomes Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KOs) in his first HBO main event, Donaire knows he’ll have recorded his biggest victory since he won Darchinyan’s IBF flyweight title. [Click Here To Read More]
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