DONAIRE THE NEXT BIG NAME IN PHILIPPINE BOXING
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 04 Feb 2010
While they all agree that “Fighter of the Decade” Manny Pacquiao is in a class of his own, three prominent boxing figures believe that WBA Interim super flyweight champion and former IBF/IBO flyweight champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire is the next big name in Philippine boxing.
American trainer Rick Stehely who steered Pacquiao to his first world title – the WBC flyweight championship which Pacquiao won by a stunning eighth round knockout over Thai hero Chatchai Sasakul in December 1998, believes Donaire can follow Pacquiao’s footsteps and win “maybe five or six world titles” in different weight divisions.
Stehely had predicted before Pacquiao won the flyweight title that he would keep growing and win four world titles but he noted he won seven and maybe can win an eighth.
The trainer was totally impressed with Donaire telling us “I think he is absolutely sensational. This guy’s got skills beyond skills. I mean he’s really, really good.”
While admitting he didn’t know much about Donaire’s opponent Gerson Guerrero, Stehely said “I can’t see anybody in the world at that weight class beating Donaire.”
Internationally respected referee Bruce McTavish described Donaire as “a class act and another man like Z “The Dream” Gorres who is a real gentleman in and out of the ring.” He said “when you think he (Donaire) has reached his potential, he keeps getting better and I don’t know what the limit is going to be with him.”
Donaire battles Mexico’s hard-hitting Gerson Guerrero in the main event on the “Pinoy Power III/Latin Fury 13” fight card at the Las Vegas Hilton on February 14 (Manila Time) which will be telecast in the Philippines by the giant broadcast network ABS-CBN.
McTavish said he is really impressed with Donaire’s new trainer, former world champion Robert Garcia and added “Freddie Roach better watch out.” McTavish said he had refereed two fights where Garcia was in the corner and “his instructions are the best I’ve ever heard a cornerman give.”
The international referee said Guerrero who tends to leave himself open “will find out what a left hook is” but noted that Mexicans are durable and Donaire “can’t take him (Guerrero) for granted. He has to pace himself and the punch will come.”
McTavish said Donaire is “not the next big thing in Philippine boxing. He is right now because we know Manny (Pacquiao) is in a field of his own, so we have to look for someone else and Donaire is the one right now. Besides, he’s only going to get better.”
Australian “Promoter of the Year” Peter Maniatis said Donaire is among the top six or seven fighters in his pound-for-pound list of current fighters in the world. Maniatis said “he is a superstar and I think he can move up in weight and win world titles like Manny Pacquiao. I think Donaire can win four world titles. I don’t think there is anybody who can beat him right up to featherweight.”
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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