By Dave Lahr: Nonito Donaire (25-1, 17 KO’s) is talking about being ready to fight for the titles against WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KO’s) right now. The problem is the fight doesn’t take place until next month on February 19th at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 28-year-old Donaire says he’s already at 128, which is 10 pounds over the 118 pound weight limit for the bantamweight division.

This doesn’t look good for Donaire. It looks like he may have worried himself into over-training for the fight and is ready too soon for the fight. What we could be seeing is an emaciated, weakened Donaire when the fight takes place next month. It’s never good to lose your head and over-train for a fight. I’ve seen fighters like Oscar De La Hoya do that with Manny Pacquiao.

If De La Hoya had just kept his cool and kept his weight to a management level instead of going on a strict diet, he would have had a great chance of beating Pacquiao. But he totally blew it by over-training and coming into the fight weakened and weight drained. I think we may see the same thing with Donaire. The guy must be totally worried about facing the powerful punches of Montiel and is already in his custom ready to fight, even though the fight still is a long ways off. This may not even be sporting for Montiel. I can just see him beating up on a skeletonized Donaire on 2/19. That won’t be interesting for me.