By Francisco Hernandez: Most successful Boxers usually don’t want their children to become Boxers, because they know the demands of the sport, and how often the returns are not in proportion to the great sacrifice that is needed to become a successful Pugilist. Most of these men would have preferred to do something else if destiny and necessity would not have put them on the path of the Sweet Science. There is another type of fighter who practices boxing like it was just another trade. Just as some families practice a trade such as: carpentry, plumbing, stone masonry; similarly some families practice the trade of boxing. Fernando “Cochulito” Montiel belongs to such a trade family. The trade for the Montiel family is boxing. A dozen family members have been or are boxers, Fernando’s uncles, brothers, cousins and nephews. His uncle Antonio started the trade practice in the family. Some of them are now trainers. His cousin Alejandro Felix Montiel was IBA champion. Another member of the Montiel family, who was adopted through boxing, is World Champion Jorge Arce, who practically grew up with Fernando in the boxing gym since childhood.

Just as any other child who grows up in a family that practices a trade, Fernando Montiel was practically born in the boxing gym. His godfather is none other than hall of famer legend Marco Antonio Barrera. He has a good amateur record; he fought 45 amateur fights and only lost 3. As a professional he has been World Champion at flyweight, super flyweight, and bantamweight. Cochulito Montiel approaches boxing with the mentality and attitude of a tradesman, he knows what tools to use for the job and he gets it done.

The media reports about a possible fight between Cochulito and Nonito Donaire on February 2011. Robert Garcia, Donaire’s trainer, jokingly commented that after Donaire’s performance against Wladimir Sidorenko, Montiel might decide to feign sickness to get out of a fight with Donaire. The problem for Donaire and Robert Garcia is that Cochulito is perfectly healthy and strong as a bull in the bantamweight division. While it is true that Nonito Donaire is the best Filipino boxer today, he suffers from the same disease that kills many modern fighters, he doesn’t fight anybody that’s worth a damn. His greatest challenge and risk was his fight against Vic Darchinyan. Since then he has faced only smaller, weaker, mediocre fighters. Donaire has refused to fight Darchinyan again, probably afraid that his win was a fluke, probably afraid to lose. Darchinyan has repeatedly challenged Donaire to a rematch, this would have been a good fight, but Donaire chose instead to fight easy, boring, predictable fights. It is not farfetched that Donaire is probably manipulating his weight to gain an edge, but it seems that this advantage is no longer working for him, he can no longer live on celery sticks and water. Nonito has no choice but to move up in weight and face stronger fighters like Cochulito Montiel.

Fernando “Cochulito” Montiel like a good tradesman is already working on Nonito’s retirement coffin; he will design it with fine carvings. After Nonito is knocked out, dizzy from starving himself to make bantamweight, he will have to be lifted like a baby by his trainer Robert Garcia to the dressing room.