WITH CHAVEZ JR OUT, DONAIRE MOVES UP TO MAIN EVENT
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 02 Dec 2010
With WBC middleweight silver champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr forced to pull-out of his scheduled fight against Pawel Wolak because of the flu, Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire?s battle for the WBA bantamweight interim title against former WBA champiom Wladimir Sidorenko (22-2-2, 7 KO?s) moves up to become the main event.
Despite the withdrawal of Chavez Jr, it's still very much an exciting card with interest clearly centered on Donaire (24-1, 16 KO?s) who is No. 4 behind countryman Manny Pacquiao in Ring Magazine?s pound-for-pound rankings and faces a must-win fight in order to land a long awaited title shot against WBC/WBO champion Fernando ?Cochulito? Montiel of Mexico on February 19.
Other fights on the card to be telecast by ABS-CBN from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California will feature WBC lightweight champion Humberto Soto (53-7-2, 32 KO?s) who was at one time considered a possible opponent for Pacquiao and Urbano Antillon (28-1, 20 KO?s) who was one of Pacquiao?s sparring partners while training for his WBO welterweight title fight against Miguel Cotto last November which Pacquiao won in a rousing 12th round TKO.
Also on the card undefeated lightweight contender Mikey Garcia (23-0, 19 KO?s), the brother of Donaire?s trainer and former world champion Robert Garcia clashes with Oliver Lontchi (18-1-2, 8 KO?s) in a ten round bout.
In an earlier interview with the Inquirer, Donaire said that while he is eagerly looking forward to the Montiel showdown he is not looking past Sidorenko and is focusing on his fight this Saturday.
Donaire said he is ?in terribly good physical condition and mentally well prepared."
The skilled fighter who first made a big impression when he won the IBF/IBO flywqeight title with a sensational 5th round, one punch demolition of Vic Darchinyan of Australia on July 7, 2007 hasn?t faced a big-name opponent although he has disposed of a number of talented challengers.
In his move up to the bantamweight division, former champion Sidorenko from the Ukraine is certain to provide his toughest challenge and a perfect tune-up for a Montiel title fight.
Donaire promised ?you will see a different fighter coming in to this fight? At the same time the former WBA super flyweight interim champion who relinquished the title which was won on Tuesday by fellow Filipino Drian Francisco via a 10th round TKO over WBA No. 2 ranked Duangpetch Saengmorakot Kokiet Gym in Thailand said ?of course I am not underestimating my opponent.?
Donaire promised ?you will see a different fighter coming in to this fight.? At the same time the former IBF/IBO flyweight champion and WBA super flyweight interim champion said ?of course I am not underestimating my opponent.?
During a recent well-attended media day at the Undisputed Gym in San Carlos City, California, Donaire who many believe is a likely successor to Manny Pacquiao that with Montiel on the horizon he is ?really motivated because this is where I want to be. I want to send a message to Montiel? even as he indicated he would hopefully win by a knockout.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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