The New Ring Magazine Pound-For-Pound Ratings: Nonito Donaire Takes Number-Three Slot -- Eastside Boxing

By James Slater, Eastside Boxing

“The Bible Of Boxing,” Ring Magazine, has just updated its Pound-For-Pound ratings and its clear the writers of the publication were as impressed as the fans were by bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire’s awesome 2nd-round stoppage of Mexico’s Fernando Montiel. Before the big win, “The Filipino Flash” sat at the #5 position on Ring’s P-4-P chart, but now he has vaulted up to the #3 position - behind only countryman Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Junior.

Fans of middleweight king Sergio Martinez may feel angered, seeing as how “Maravilla” has been dropped to the #4 slot, but it can’t be denied how deserving of his lofty ranking Donaire is. Many good writers wrote how a star was born on Saturday night, in reference to the brutally stunning punch that both felled the previously unstopped Montiel and left his legs twitching in scary fashion. Now eager to see more of the once-beaten (very early in his pro career, on points over five-rounds), now three-weight champion, fans and writers also want to see how high Donaire can go in the P-4-P charts..

Much has been discussed about the man who still holds the #2 slot, the unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Junior. Some fans feel “Money” should be dropped down a few places due to inactivity; others still say he should not be on the list at all any longer! It sure will be interesting to see what Ring Magazine and other publications do with the soon-to-be 34-year-old star if the month of May comes and goes without him fighting. It was back on May 1st, against Shane Mosley, when Mayweather last boxed, but with his legal issues hanging over him, it’s unlikely he will fight again any time soon. If a full year passes without Floyd having fought, should he be dropped from the P-4-P ratings?

If this is what turns out to be the case, and as long as he doesn’t lose in the meantime, the sensational Donaire will likely rise to the #2 slot; meaning two great fighters from The Philippines will pretty much rule the boxing world! And two greater, more role model-like men you could not find. Isn’t it a shame, though, that these two incredible talents will never be able to fight each other in a bid to decide true supremacy?

Ring Magazine’s full top-10, Pound-for-Pound:

1. Manny Pacquiao

2. Floyd Mayweather

3. Nonito Donaire

4. Sergio Martinez

5. Juan Manuel Marquez

6. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam

7. Wladimir Klitschko

8. Timothy Bradley

9. Juan Manuel Lopez

10. Giovani Segura

Source: eastsideboxing.com

Glittering Donaire poised to cash in commercially in Philippines, USA -- Examiner

By Michael Marley, Examiner.com

If Bobby "Boxing Hippie" Diamond was still around Carol Doda's and the other topless joints of then gamy North Beach, San Francisco, I know what he would've said about Bay Area resident Nonito Donaire's clean, crisp KO 2 over Mexican champ Fernando Montiel Saturday night.

"He must think the Mexican guy is Jewish because he hit him right in the temple."

Well, onetime New England feathherweight champeen and conqueror of Leo DiFiore, Diamond was funny like that.

When a Boston light heavyweight acqauitance of his was found rigor mortis in the water under the Mystic River Bridge in mobbed up Chelsea, Diamond said, "Well, Georgie was always proficient in doing the Dead Man's Float."

Diamond was likely the greatest 4-10 featherweight ever. That's his pro record, not his height, folks.

He once said the California commission gave him a "no cut bout contract" and then explained that he was told if he did not trim his rock band singer locks they wouldn't allow him to rumble, young man, rumble.

I've thought of the now deceased character on my recent SF sojourn to see Mercito "No Mercy" Getsa fight.

Which brings us back to Donaire, who I think is going to be a magnet for advertisements and endorsements.

Only 28, Donaire is a true Fil-Am, meaning born in the Philippines and mostly raised in Norcal.

The public dissension between his attractive wife, Rachel, and Mom and Pop Donaire is played out and the fighter handled the question about the father (his original trainer) friction when quizzed by Mad Max Kellerman in he ring after the dramatic knockout.

I've made it a practice to tell fighters I've worked with that they will make 90 percent plus of all they earn in the ring and very little from non-boxing endeavors.

For most fighters, it rings true.

But Donaire is a fresh face, a bright and thoughtful young man who a growing demographic audience can identify with as I relearned watching the fight on TV in a San Francisco suburb.

Boxing Truth's John Chavez had me over to his friend Preston Wada's home and the crowd included a crazy quilt of mixed ethnicities, Japanese-American, Fil-Ams, Chinese-Filipino Ams and so on.

He wasn't present for the viewing but another Chavez pal, a North Beach cafe owner named Tarek, is Egyptian-American. As the "Egyptian Magician," Tarek tried a boxing career but could not overcome having Chavez as his trainer.)

America, it used to be said, is a melting pot. For this generation, it's more of a mixed salad.

I saw the same ethnic hodgepodge at a Daly City bowling alley, chock full of Fil-Ams but also populated by league teammates who were Mexican, Salvadoran and African American.

Properly handled, Donaire can be a new sporting hero for a New Age, for young people like the ones who I watched him dismantle Montiel with.

And, given how his latest victory has resonated back home with a senator issuing a proud proclamation in Manila and a victory lap/tour in the offing, the Donaires can milk both the Pinoy and USA markets for product endorsements and other lucrative sidelines.

Manny Pacquiao must be more careful now what he lends his name to commercially, given his Congressional status and possible aspirations for higher office in his homeland.

But not Donaire, he has no such limitations or restrictions.

If he keeps exploding in the ring and goes on dominating foes in an entertaining, Pacman-style way, the sky is really the limit.

I know one thing, when boxing ends, Donaire won't be needing any donors.

I know another thing, Bobby "Goldilocks" Diamond was a real gem.

(mlcmarley@aol.com)

Source: examiner.com

Has Floyd Mayweather Jr lost his #2 pound for pound ranking -- Examiner

By Rick Rockwell, Examiner.com

With Manny Pacquiao still the pound for pound best fighter in the world, the question being asked Monday morning is who's the second best. On Saturday night, Nonito Donaire defeated Fernando Montiel in devastating fashion with a 2nd round TKO. Donaire improved his record to 26-1 and now holds the WBC and WBO bantamweight titles. By Monday, the buzz over Donaire's victory was still at such a "fever pitch" that many prestigious Boxing sources, like BoxingScene.com, have Donaire replacing Floyd Mayweather Jr as the #2 P4P best fighter. But has Floyd really lost the #2 spot?

I'm just as impressed over Donaire's Saturday night victory as many others, but I would not rank him #2. I also agree that Floyd Mayweather Jr should fall down the list especially if he's not fighting in the ring. If Floyd doesn't fight in 2011, which is possible due to his legal issues, then he should be dropped off the list all together. However, it's not Donaire that should replace him.

Sergio Martinez should be ranked as the #2 pound for pound best fighter. He was fighter of the year for 2010 and has dominated top fighters in 2 weight classes. Martinez KO'd Paul Williams who was arguably the #3 pound for pound fighter in the world. Martinez is arguably the one fighter that nobody really wants to face especially after defeating WIlliams and Pavlik.

I would slide Donaire right in at #3 and Floyd Jr would fall to #4. I'd probably round out the Top 5 with Juan Manuel Marquez or Timothy Bradley.

Who do you readers have as your Top 5 P4P?

Source: examiner.com