By Chris Williams: Former IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire (24-1, 16 KO’s) moves up in weight to take on Ukrainian Wladimir Sidorenko (22-2-2, 7 KO’s) tonight at the Honda Center, in Anaheim, California. This fight is supposed to set up Donaire for a much bigger fight against WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel next year on February 19th. However, Donaire looked terrible recently in his fight with Rafael Concepcion and it’s not beyond the realm of possibilities that Donaire could lose to tonight against the weak punching Sidorenko.

I don’t think it’s likely, because Sidorenko has no power to speak of, but it’s a possibility. Donaire can dish out punishment but he doesn’t seem to take it very well judging by how he ended up running from Concepcion when the tough Panamanian started hitting him back. Donaire ended up winning that fight by a 12 round decision but he had to get on his bicycle to keep from getting pummeled by Concepcion. Sidorenko doesn’t have Sidorenko’s power or his tough fighting style, but Sidorenko is smart and capable of giving Donaire a lot of problems if he fights back and sticks a jab in Donaire’s face.

Some boxing fans see Donaire as the next Manny Pacquiao, and capable of winning multiple titles in different weight classes. I don’t see Donaire as being anywhere close to being as good as Pacquiao, and I’m not even impressed with Pacquiao. Donaire looked good at flyweight but at super flyweight he didn’t look invincible at all. I think he would have been beaten had he stepped it up and taken on the best fighters at that weight instead of moving up to bantamweight. I think he’s good enough to beat Sidorenko, but Montiel is going to ruin him and send him packing to the super flyweight division. Donaire will have problems once Montiel starts punching him and running won’t get the job done like it did with Concepcion.