By Dan Ambrose: Top Rank promoter Bob Arum doesn’t see any reason why the February 19th bout between WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel (43-2-2, 33 KO’s) and former International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Nonito Donaire (24-1, 16 KO’s) can’t go ahead anyway despite the huge gash in Montiel’s right leg from a motorcycle accident a week ago. Montiel, 31, was at a motorcycle event in Alamos, Sonora, Mexico.

After the event was over, Montiel was given a ride and the driver crashed causing Montiel to badly injure his right leg. Montiel suffered a nasty cut that was both long and deep. It’s hard to imagine that he’ll be able to be ready for the Donaire fight in February, because Montiel won’t be able to do much with the leg for all of October and probably November as well. He would be basically coming back from months of zero activity when he starts training camp in January.

While I think Montiel may end up taking the fight, but I think it’s stupid for him to it. With the cut he has, he needs more time for it to heal and then a lot of time for him to train and get in a tune-up bout before Donaire. If Montiel fights Donaire in February, he’ll be really rushing it and he may end up losing what could be a very winnable fight if he were 100%.

Donaire’s career has languished since his win over Vic Darchinyan three years ago. Donaire has had no big fights and has had to settle for taking on guys like Luis Maldonado, Raul Martinez, Moruti Mthalane, Rafael Concepcion, Manuel Vargas and Hernan Marquez. Donaire had a lot of problems with Concepcion, the same fighter that Montiel totally blew out in three rounds in July. Donaire faces former WBA bantamweight champion Wladimir Sidorenko on December 4th. This is another easy fight for Donaire, as Sidorenko has lost two out of his last three fights.