By Dave Lahr: WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KO’s) has a big advantage in power on his side as he approaches his February 19th fight against Nonito Donaire (25-1, 17 KO’s) in their battle at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Montiel, 31, seems to be getting better and better as he ages. In the past two years, only one fighter has been able to last beyond the 4th round and that was Juan Alberto Rosas back in 2008 when he used running and clinching in order to survive but lose a 10 round decision.

It’s not that Montiel has the best boxing skills that you’ll ever see, it’s that his power allows him to make up for what he lacks by enabling him to knock everybody out. Donaire has got a real problem on his hands, because he tends to react negatively when hit hard by even weaker punchers. It’s going to be extremely interesting to see Donaire’s reaction when getting hit by an puncher as powerful as Montiel. In watching Donaire spar, he’s real good at moving around and using head movement, but when he actually fights, he’s very hittable.

It’s almost as if the head movement he shows in shadow boxing is a pose that he’s unable to use when actually fighting. Donaire is there to be hit in all of his fights. Against a slugger like Montiel, Donaire really has one chance and that’s to run, run and run so that he doesn’t get flattened immediately. If he gets hit, it’s all over. Donaire will be flat on his back counting stars and wondering what hit him. Donaire will have to employ his running style he used to survive in his fight with Rafael Concepcion and pray that Montiel doesn’t have the wheels to cut off the ring and nail him.