By Dave Lahr: Nonito Donaire (25-1, 17 KO’s) hasn’t been beaten in 10 years since losing a five round decision to Rosendo Sanchez in his second fight as a pro in 2001. Since then, the 28-year-old Donaire has won 24 consecutive fights going into his fight on Saturday night, February 19th against WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KO’s) at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

After all those wins, many of them coming against less than household names, Donaire still isn’t a major star in the United States or around the world. Donaire, his diehard fans, are hoping that a win over the powerful Montiel will be the fight that will finally make Donaire a star and put him in the class of a Manny Pacquiao, one of his hero’s, in terms of fame.

Donaire is the favorite in this fight against Montiel. However, it doesn’t really matter whether Donaire is a favorite or not. If the knockout artist Montiel lands one of his shots, it’s going to be all over for Donaire. It’s easy to see why Donaire is the favorite, though. Montiel has been rumored to be struggling badly with trying to make the bantamweight weight limit, and in looking at his pictures, he appears incredibly thin to the point where you can see bones. He says that he won’t be fighting at bantamweight after this fight because of the weight struggles. As long as Montiel is not too weight drained, he should still win this fight without too many problems. But, Montiel doesn’t look good in the photos. He’s taking off too much weight and it could affect him if this fight goes into the later rounds.