Donaire vows to dethrone Montiel

MANILA, Philippines - Nonito Donaire Jr. has promised to do to WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel of Mexico what he did to Vic Darchinyan and Vladimir Sidorenko neither of whom had ever been knocked out until they faced the Filipino Flash.

Montiel has lost only twice in his celebrated career, both on points to Mark Johnson on a majority decision in 2003 and to Jhonny Gonzalez by a split verdict in 2006. He has been floored thrice – by Johnson, Filipino Roy Doliguez and Jose Lopez – but his record remains clear of a defeat by stoppage.

Darchinyan was unbeaten when he battled Donaire and lost his IBF flyweight title on a fifth round knockout in 2007. Sidorenko had never been knocked out but was bludgeoned into submission by Donaire in four rounds last December.

“I know that Montiel has never been stopped,” said Donaire. “Darchinyan and Sidorenko had never been stopped, too, until I came along. I’ll do to Montiel what I did to Darchinyan and Sidorenko. I’ll be the first fighter to knock him out.”

Montiel stakes his two belts against Donaire in a scheduled 12-round bout at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas this morning (Manila time). The fighters tipped the scales at the bantamweight limit of 118 pounds at the weigh-in last Friday. Donaire’s purse is $350,000 while Montiel will receive $250,000.

Experience is on the Mexican’s side as he has logged 48 fights and Donaire only 26. But Donaire, a 2-1 favorite, said his speed, power and ability to adjust will take care of business.

Montiel, 31, is a future Hall of Famer in the mold of the great Mexican champions in the lighter divisions like Ricardo Lopez, Ruben Olivares and Miguel Canto. Former Boxing News editor Claude Abrams once said Montiel “has all the skills and charisma to follow in the footsteps of the Mexican legends who have preceded him in the lighter divisions.”

When Montiel invaded Cebu to defend his WBO superflyweight title against Z Gorres in 2007, he was accompanied by his father Manuel Sr., a former Mexican flyweight titlist who once lost a decision to Canto, and three brothers – Manuel Jr., Eduardo and Pedro. The Montiels are a tight-knit family and like to stick close together. Montiel won a disputed split decision over Gorres and of course, his father and brothers were outspoken in justifying the victory. No doubt, the clan will be in full force to support Montiel in what could be his biggest test against Donaire.

Last December, Montiel warmed up for Donaire by stopping A. J. Banal victim Jovanny Soto in two rounds in Mexico. He was ferocious in disposing of Soto, starting like a house on fire, battering him with both fists and delivering a strong warning to Donaire whose wife Rachel earlier mocked the Mexican by offering to pay for an “air bubble or even bodyguards” to avoid an excuse to duck the Filipino.

Donaire, 28, said he’ll do what it takes to dethrone Montiel. Whatever the Mexican brings to the table, Donaire vowed to outdo. If Montiel comes forward to engage, he’ll oblige and counter like he did against Darchinyan with devastating results. If Montiel boxes from long range, Donaire said he’ll beat him at that game, too.

Asked how he feels about playing second fiddle to Manny Pacquiao, Donaire said it’s not an issue. “For me, it’s not about being the most famous Filipino or anything like that,” he said, quoted by Boxing News editor Tris Dixon. “It’s more about bringing pride and believing what I believe in and if people say you’re the best or you’re second best, ‘thank you.’ I’m truly honored that they have accepted me and acknowledged what I have done and feel that they are part of me when I’m in the ring. I bring my flag out proudly and express who I am and that’s a Filipino fighter. If people don’t think that’s enough then it’s not enough. But I’m there to represent who I really am, what I am and I’m going to do the best I can regardless of if they recognize me or not.”

Donaire said Montiel is his stepping stone for bigger aspirations. Down the road, he expects to challenge two unbeaten fighters – WBO superbantamweight champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. and WBO featherweight Juan Manuel Lopez. As his body matures, Donaire said he expects to annex more belts in different weight divisions.

“I would like to do this as long as I can like Bernard Hopkins,” said Donaire quoted by Joseph Santoliquito. “I want to accomplish a lot. I want to one day be a Hall of Famer. I want to see how far I can go with boxing. Training keeps me going. I love to box and it’s the first time in my life that I can say that. So I want to keep it going. I’m confident when I enter the ring. There’s no fear.”

Montiel is a former WBO superflyweight and flyweight champion. Donaire once held the IBF flyweight and WBA interim superflyweight crowns.

Donaire hasn’t lost since dropping a decision in his second pro outing in 2001. In his mind, losing is not an option. “When they took the decision away from me in my second fight, I didn’t know how to react,” he told Dixon. “I didn’t want the sorry feeling in people’s faces and the sadness in their eyes following me. I didn’t like that at all and that’s why, for 10 years now, I haven’t lost because I don’t want people pitying me.”

Told that his style is reminiscent of legendary world bantamweight and featherweight champion Eder Jofre, Donaire said he’s honored to be compared to the Hall of Famer but admitted not knowing about the Brazilian. Donaire said he’ll research on Jofre’s history.

Jofre, now 74, was a pro from 1957 to 1976 and compiled a 77-2-4 record, with 50 KOs. Only Japan’s Fighting Harada managed to beat Jofre, twice on points. Jofre is often regarded as one of the greatest bantamweights ever. In 1963, he stopped Filipino challenger Johnny Jamito in the 12th round at the Araneta Coliseum. Jofre also defeated three other Filipinos – Tony Jumao-as, Danny Kid and Leo Espinosa – in his career.