By Dan Ambrose: The cold hard truth is that unless WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (26-1, 18 KO’s) can pick up titles in each division he fights in all the way up to the welterweight division, he’s going to probably fall well short of the mark that Manny Pacquiao has set with his eight world titles. You can’t say that the 5’6″ Donaire is too small to eventually move up to welterweight because he’s roughly the same height as the 5’6 1/2″ Pacquiao and only one inch shorter than the 5’7″ Miguel Cotto.

Donaire, 28, has already won two world titles in two separate weight classes. If Donaire picks up titles in the super bantamweight, featherweight, super featherweight, lightweight, light welterweight and welterweight divisions, Donaire will have equaled Pacquiao’s eight world titles in as many divisions. It’s certainly possible with Donaire’s speed, power and boxing ability. He could very well win titles in each of these divisions if his promoter Bob Arum selectively matches Donaire with less than the very best champions. It would be asking too much of Donaire for him to be taking on the very best champion if the idea is for him to move quickly from division to division to try and equal or better Pacquiao’s record.

Donaire appears to be in a good position to pick up his third world title by facing WBO super bantamweight champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. What may slow down and ultimately hurt Donaire is if he wastes time trying to unify the titles at banweight instead of moving on immediately to go after another title. At 28, Donaire doesn’t have the time to waste trying to needlessly unify the bantamweight titles by beating the Abner Mares vs. Joseph Agebeko bout.