By Rod Bautista: Photo credit Zanfer boxing – Nonito Donaire’s destruction Saturday night of former bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel has caused quite the stir in the boxing world. Many fans and scribes who were waiting for Donaire’s response to his first serious test in the boxing ring definitely got their answer.
Max Kellerman brought up the comparison that has been made quite often since Donaire’s breakthrough performance against Vic Darchinyan in 2007, in his post fight interview “It’s you and Manny Pacquiao, Pacquiao and you on top of the (pound for pound) list. Can you talk about the fact, how you feel about the fact that Pacquiao is Filipino and you are Filipino-American?”
Donaire responded, “I believe that Pacquiao has given me this opportunity and I always will thank him for that.”
It will be unavoidable for Donaire to be compared to Manny Pacquiao being of Filipino descent. Being born in the same city and province as Manny Pacquiao and being a talented fighter with knock out power one can make a direct connection between the two, their stories are quite different from each other.
While Pacquiao left home for the big city as a young teen and began to box not for sport, but for survival, Donaire’s family immigrated to the Bay Area of California when Nonito was 10 years old. Donaire was introduced to boxing by his father and began training as an amateur from an early age in California. Though Donaire’s heritage is undeniable his boxing pedigree is very much American.
Watching Donaire in the ring last night stylistically one could draw comparisons more to a fighter like Roy Jones Jr. rather than that of Manny Pacquiao. What Manny lacked in technique and footwork as a young fighter blowing through the lower weight classes Nonito Donaire displays in spades. His movement and defense are miles apart from the where Pacman was at the same weight and stage of his illustrious career. What is left to be discovered is if Donaire has the heart and warrior spirit that has become Pacquiao’s trademark and cornerstone of his success. Donaire not only took a step to proving his mettle last night, he took massive strides by beating a known warrior and champion in Fernando Montiel. He not only beat the fierce Mexican, but delivered a devastating one punch knockout victory that brought back shades of last year’s breakout star, Sergio Martinez, and of course Pacman’s KO of Ricky Hatton.
What separates Donaire is the fact that he is a Filipino-American with an emphasis on American. Like Oscar Dela Hoya who transcended his Mexican heritage from the beginning and became an instant crossover star, Nonito Donaire is a champion not only Filipino and Asian America can relate to, but America and immediately the Bay Area of California will have the ability to identify with. This advantage is something neither Pacquiao nor Martinez as boxing’s reigning pound for pound kings, which doesn’t take away from their greatness, but it also doesn’t bring what boxing so desperately needs. A personality that America can embrace as their own.
I don’t include Floyd Mayweather in the conversation, because he is inactive, and his bad boy wrestling “heel” act has garnered more criticism than praise. What Nonito Donaire brings to the table is his humble demeanor and eloquent speaking, which will allow him an instant audience and following. Combine that with the fact that his talent is undeniable and electrifying, Nonito Donaire may be able to do for boxing what Oscar Dela Hoya did in the mid 90’s and finally inject some much needed life into boxing.
Without getting to far ahead of myself, and maybe checking my post left hook high at the door second, before I anoint the heir apparent to boxing’s throne, Nontio Donaire will definitely need to keep winning in the same fashion he has his whole career. When you look at the bantamweight and super bantamweight division, the talent pool definitely is not as deep as the other divisions at 122lbs and 126lbs. There is no doubt that Donaire will unify the division if he is afforded the opportunity to do so. If Donaire can accomplish that and successfully move up in weight to take on the Lopez’s and the Gamboas of the featherweight realm then boxing can look forward to a good ride.
Make no mistake Manny Pacquiao has become a huge cross over sensation and has very much brought boxing into a light that has sorely been needed for a long time. Nonito Donaire is just a different type of animal and different type of star. One that honed his skill and grew up in the good old USA. That my fellow fans is the kind of star casual and hardcore boxing fans have been waiting for. One that brings power, skill, charm and eloquence and maybe most importantly an American address.
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