DONAIRE NOT TAKING THE PACMAN PATH
Goodnight Fernando!
San Francisco, CA– It is tough to talk Philippine boxing these days sans mentioning boxing’s king Manny Pacquiao. That being said, Nonito Donaire is looking to make a statement at 118 lbs., one that the Pacman never did in any weight class, and that is being the undisputed champion.
BOXREC.COM TOP TEN BANTAMS
According to BoxRec.com, Donaire (26-1, 18 KOs) is head and shoulders above anybody else at 118. The #2 guy is IBF beltbearer Joseph Agbeko (28-2, 22 KOs) who lives in the Bronx by way of Africa. He is 4-1 in IBF title scraps, losing only to Yohnny Perez (20-1, 14 KOs) whom he beat in a recent rematch. He is slated to meet #4 Abner Mares (23-0-1, 13 KOs) in April as part of Showtime’s 118 lb. tourney.
WBA CHAMP A LITTLE MORE THAN LUCKY?
Being a Panamanian or Venezuelan is seemingly an advantage when you are a WBA champ. That being said, Panamanian Anselmo Moreno (30-1, 10 KOs) has had eight WBA title tiffs, winning them all, with the last two being split decisions over nondescript Nehomar Cermeno (20-3, 12 KOs) Having not fought since last August, I’d make the “Filipino Flash” a 3-1 favorite over any of these guys.
WHAT ABOUT THAT DARCHINYAN GUY?
The #5 rated boxer at 118 is Vic Darchinyan, the same guy Donaire dominated before knocking him all but dead with one left hook (just like Fernando Montiel) on July 7, 2007. Having lost his last scrap to by SD 12 to Abner Mares, Vic is fighting the aforementioned Yohnny Perez in April.
THE REMATCH WAS MADE & THEN VIC BACKED OUT!
To call Vic a coward might be a stretch, but the Aussie is fretting ever having to fight Nonito again. They had an agreement, then Vic demanded more money, the bigger cut of the pie, even though he was the one that Nonito knocked into the following week! So Donaire gives him what he wants and Vic still says no!
Koki Kameda
FIGHTNG KOKI KAMEDA IN JAPAN WOULD BE HUGE!
The only other guy in the top ten that can add to and further enhance Donaire’s status as the “best Filipino boxer in the world,” is Japan’s Koki Kameda (24-1, 16 KOs)
Once a TV ratings bonanza in Japan, Kameda lost a MD 12 to WBC 112 lb. champ Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (79-3-1, 43 KOs) of Thailand last March. Donaire-Kameda would be the biggest fight in Japan in many a moon.
WILL DONAIRE BE FROZEN OUT?
With the Showtime bantamweight tourney in full swing, meaning everybody thus far mentioned except Kameda will be busy. Will this tourney keep WBC & WBO champ Donaire away from the WBA & IBF titles? If so, then fighting Kameda in Japan makes the most dollars and cents for the “Filipino Flash.”
Pedro Fernandez