By Dave Lahr: Former IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire (25-1, 17 KO’s) has been pretty well shielded from big punchers for the past three years by his promoter Bob Arum. This has allowed the 28-year-old Donaire to flourish as a fighter by picking up a number of wins over less than well known opposition. The victories in turn seem to have sprung up some ideas in Donaire’s head because he now has moved up in weight to bantamweight and is about to take on the best fighter in the division in WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KO’s) on February 19th at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Needless to say, I see this fight going badly for the slender Donaire. I’m afraid he’s bit off far more than he can chew by stepping it up against this ferocius Mexican. You see this isn’t one of the weak fighters that Donaire has been feasting on for the past three years. Montiel is no joke and can knock a fighter out with either hand and often does. When he starts his big shots, if Donaire doesn’t go down immediately, he’s going to start with the running. The same kind of running that Donaire did in his bout with Rafael Concepcion last year.

I don’t think it will be a thought out thing for Donaire. His body is going to take over for him, like someone reacting on instinct when their hand has been put in fire. Donaire will start running once he tastes Montiel’s power early on. From there, it will be Montiel literally chasing Donaire around the ring and punishing him with savage shots to the head and body. Before long, blood is going to be dripping from Donaire’s eyes into his mouth. He’s going to taste that blood, believe me.

It’s going to be a part of Donaire’s experience in this fight until Montiel finally puts Donaire out of his misery around the 6th or 7th rounds. Donaire will then have to decide whether he wants to go back down to the flyweight division or continue on and try to fight other bantamweights. I think he’ll do fine as long as he’s kept away from any other big punchers like Montiel.