Nonito Donaire Seeks Fernando Montiel, Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

WBA interim super flyweight (115 pounds) champion Nonito Donaire, who scored two knockdowns on the way to Saturday's eighth-round knockout of challenger Hernan "Tyson" Marquez, will seek a potential November bout with WBO bantamweight (118 pounds) titlist, Fernando Montiel, followed by one opposite WBO super bantamweight (122 pounds) king, Wilfredo Vazquez Jr., his promoter, Bob Arum, said.

Against Marquez, Donaire scored his 24th victory against one loss, and his 16th knockout in Saturday night's Showtime-televised bout at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

"We're hoping and we believe that, thanks to Showtime, Nonito's next fight will be for the bantamweight title against the legendary champion Montiel, and we'll be putting that together in the next couple of weeks," said Arum during a post-fight press conference.

"You could see his great skills that he has, and what a tremendous boxer and fighter that he is," said Arum. "Hopefully, if he gets beyond Montiel, then his next goal is to fight Vazquez, the Puerto Rican 122-pound champion. And so, there's a lot of big fights for him in the months and the years ahead."

Nicknamed "The Filipino Flash," the 27-year-old Donaire improved his winning streak to 23 fights with knockouts against eight of his last 10 opponents.

Having had trouble maintaining the 115-pound weight limit, Donaire had vowed that Marquez would be his final bout in that division.

"Nonito has one weakness, and that's that he likes to eat," said Arum. "He's been starving himself fighting at 115. So at least he'll be able to eat a little bit more while he gets ready for his fights."

Donaire would next like a shot at the 31-year-old Montiel (41-2-2, 31 KOs), who has a July 17 clash with Rafael Concepcion (14-4-1, 8 KOs) in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico.

Montiel is coming off of April's fourth-round knockout over Hozumi Hasegawa, this after having scored February's first-round knockout over Ciso Morales.

The 26-year-old Vazquez, of Bayon, Puerto Rico, is nicknamed, "WV 2." The son of the former world champion by the same name, Vazquez Jr. (19-0-1, 16 KOs) has won four straight fights by knockout, and is riding a 10-fight winning streak that includes eight stoppages.

Vazquez is coming off of a May, 29, 10th-round knockout of previously undefeated Zsolt "Mr. Left hook" Bedak (15-1, five KOs), of Hamburg, Germany, on Saturday night at Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez, Bayamon, P.R.

In February, Vazquez earned the WBO crown by scoring a fourth-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Marvin Sonsona (14-1-1, 12 KOs), of General Santos City, Philippines, who was being called "The Next Manny Pacquiao."

"Bob, you just made my day when you said Montiel and maybe Vazquez. You know, this is the dream that I've been wanting," said Donaire.

"Everybody in my facebook and my Twitter has been saying, 'when are you going to fight the best out there?' and, 'when are you going to fight guys who are elite?' Thank you for giving me that and opening that door for me."

Donaire said that he fought the first four rounds against Marquez as a southpaw due to an injury to his left leg.

"Like I had mentioned before, I had this injury in my left leg that made me turn and fight as a southpaw. [Trainer] Roberto Garcia and my team decided to turn me southpaw. So this is the first time that I've fought southpaw. I mean, I've always fought as a right-hander," said Donaire.

"This was an experimental fight. I tried to figure him out, but the things that we worked were difficult to use on him because he was very short," said Donaire. "So every time that we tried to duck down, he was right in front of me. It was an experience. And when I said, 'enough is enough,' I turned right-handed and I took him out."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Donaire is the only one who can carry torch after Pacquiao -- PhilBoxing

By Ed C. Tolentino, PhilBoxing.com

While it remains to be seen if Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao will lace on the gloves again, it cannot be denied that the clock is winding down on his illustrious career. Pacquiao has already made the cross-over to the House of Representatives and with each passing day at the hallowed halls of Congress, the seven-time world champion is arguably getting more convinced that he has found life after boxing.

Which begs the 64-peso question: Who will carry the torch for Philippine boxing after Pacquiao?

On Sunday, featherweight Bernabe Concepcion became the latest Pacquiao-wannabe to bite the dust. Looking to shave the lion (WBO featherweight king Juan Manuel Lopez) right inside his den (Puerto Rico), Concepcion ended up looking like a sacrificial lamb. Except for the Hail Mary left that nearly knocked the day lights out of Lopez in the first round, Concepcion did not really have a prayer, much less a solid offensive fight plan, in the fight and was predictably bamboozled.

Early in the card, super bantamweight Eden Sonsona blew a wide lead over Puerto Rican Jonathan Oquendo and ended up getting stopped in nine rounds. Sonsona was more than holding his own until the 5th round, when Oquendo nailed him with a huge blow to the breadbasket. Oquendo kept pounding the body until Sonsona wilted in the ninth round. While it may be argued that Oquendo was benefited by low blows and a referee who appeared to be suffering from some cataract problems, the fact remains that in a fight that was supposed to be a gut check, Sonsona ended up flat on his back.

WBA interim super flyweight champion Nonito Donaire was the only Filipino to emerge from Puerto Rico with his head held high. Donaire methodically dissected Mexican power puncher Hernan “Tyson” Marquez before stopping him for good in the eighth with a solid left.

So clinical was Donaire’s demolition of Marquez that he should be, from hereon, labelled “Doctor Donaire” instead of the “Filipino Flash.”

Skill-wise, Donaire once again showed that he is the only Filipino fighter right now who can carry the torch for Philippine boxing after Pacquiao archives the gloves. Donaire, however, needs to step up to the big leagues. An impending showdown with Fernando Montiel might just give his career back the momentum it lost after his spectacular knockout win over Vic Darchinyan in July 2007.

Outside Donaire, Philippine boxing is littered with prospects who want to be the next Pacquiao overnight.

Pacquiao has generously supported a host of promising Filipino fighters, including Concepcion. Pacquiao cannot do the fighting for them, which means these local prospects of ours must step up to the challenge and prove themselves worthy.

Thus far, only Donaire is moving to that direction.

Source: philboxing.com

Nonito Donaire Stops Hernan Marquez in Eighth Round -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

WBA interim super flyweight (115 pounds) champion Nonito Donaire dropped his rival with a left hook and left uppercut, respectively, in the fifth and eighth rounds -- the second time for good -- on the way to scoring his 24th victory against one loss, and his 16th knockout against challenger Hernan "Tyson" Marquez in Saturday night's Showtime-televised bout at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Nicknamed "The Filipino Flash," the 27-year-old Donaire fought the first four rounds from a southpaw stance for the first time in his career, but, nevertheless, improved his winning streak to 23 fights with knockouts against eight of his last 10 opponents.

The 21-year-old Marquez, who was coming off of his first loss in March's unanimous decision to Richie Mepranum, slipped to 25-2 with 18 knockouts.

"You know, I wanted some more rounds. I knew that I could figure him out right away if I returned to my regular right-handed style. But I wanted to do my lefty style," said Donaire. "I really practiced for it, and everybody believed in me. I was very confident going in there. But he came out really tough. I couldn't counter him the way that I had done against other guys. So I took some beating, but I think that I needed that."

A Philippines native with long-range goals that include being a four-to-five division champion, the nearly 5-foot-7 Donaire has had trouble remaining at 115 pounds and said that Marquez represented his final fight at that weight.

In fact, from June of 2004 through November of 2005, Donaire fought six times as a bantamweight (118 pounds), going 6-0 with three knockouts.

In his last bout on Feb. 13, Donaire physically dwarfed 29-year-old Manuel Vargas (26-5-1, 11 KOs), whom he flattened in the third round.

A San Leandro, Calif. resident, Donaire constantly draws comparisons to his Filipino countryman, Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs), a seven-division titlist and current holder of the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title.

Donaire would next like a shot at 31-year-old, WBO bantamweight (118 pounds) champion Fernando Montiel (41-2-2, 31 KOs), who has a July 17 clash with Rafael Concepcion (14-4-1, 8 KOs) in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico.

Montiel is coming off of April's fourth-round knockout over Hozumi Hasegawa, this after having scored February's first-round knockout over Ciso Morales.

"As of now, we have Montiel and we have other guys that we can work on fighting and to look ahead to," said Donaire. "This was a learning experience for me tonight."

In the first round, Donaire was troubled by Marquez's right hand early. Nevertheless, Donaire won the round over the latter stages largely with a big right hand.

Marquez, in his first bout under trainer Rudy Perez, had more second-round success out of his own southpaw stance with his right jab and follow-up left hooks. Donaire fought off of the ropes in the third round, landing telling left hooks and left uppercuts, yet again, late in the round.

Donaire went more to the left hooks and left uppercuts early in the fourth, even as he boxed, in retreat. Donaire landed two hard left uppercuts midway through the fourth, also following up with lead left hands and decent right jabs that began to cause swelling and puffiness beneath Marquez's eyes.

Donaire switched back to his right hand stance in the fifth round and enjoyed immediate success, nailing and dropping Marquez with a left hook to the temple. Marquez was up at the count of eight, but took more punishment.

"I definitely like my left hand side. I feel so much more power on my left hand side, but you haven't seen it yet," said Donaire. "It's just a matter of time where you are going to see a Pernell Whitaker or a Marvelous Marvin Hagler with that style. That's what I want to do."

Donaire wobbled Marquez early in the sixth with another left, and, later, a right hand that was followed by a left jab. Sensing that his man was ready to go, Donaire went more frequently with right hands to the head and body which repeatedly backed up Marquez.

Told by his corner not to "let Marquez survive," Donaire absorbed some early, seventh-round combinations before settling in with some nice head and shoulder movement while fighting tall from behind his left jab. Donaire punished Marquez with a left-right-left uppercut series late in the seventh, as well as a right-left-right volley before the bell.

The eighth saw more of Donaire's punishing left jab reaching the swelling face of Marquez, whom he also nailed with straight rights and right uppercuts. A looping right uppercut hurt Marquez, as did an assortment of subsequent right and left hands -- the last of which lifted and dropped Marquez.

Marquez rose, and intended to continue, but Perez signaled for the referee, Roberto Ramirez, to wave an end to the fight.

"I knew that I could make him miss, because he ducks down a lot. And every time that I made him miss, I was going throw an uppercut, and that's what landed every time," said Donaire. "Every time that he missed, he left himself open for an uppercut. And I knew that if I turned to the right hand, that I would get him right away."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Nonito Donaire Growing into Role as Manny Pacquiao Protege -- FanHouse

By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse

Even as WBA interim super flyweight (115 pounds) champion Nonito Donaire focuses on his next opponent, Hernan "Tyson" Marquez, the 27-year-old Philippines native has long-range goals that include being a four-to-five division champion.

That's not only out of desire, but out of necessity. The nearly 5-foot-7 Donaire is having trouble remaining at 115 pounds.

From June of 2004 through November of 2005, Donaire (23-1, 15 knockouts) fought six times as a bantamweight (118 pounds), going 6-0 with three knockouts.

In his last bout on Feb. 13, Donaire looked much larger than his opponent when he flattened 29-year-old Manuel Vargas (26-5-1, 11 KOs) in the third round.

"I'm definitely growing. I mean, I think that I should be fighting at 122 pounds [super bantamweight,]" said Donaire. "It's getting ridiculous for me to be dropping down to 115 pounds."

A San Leandro, Calif., resident, Donaire constantly hears comparisons to his Filipino countryman, Manny Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs), a seven-division titlist and current holder of the WBO welterweight (147 pounds) title.

A three-time Fighter of the Year and one-time Fighter of the Decade, Pacquiao is considered by many to be the sport's premier performer, pound-for-pound.

"It's an honor -- a great honor -- to be compared to Manny Pacquiao. I mean, the guy has done what no one has ever done before. So for someone to throw a name at you like that, that's a big compliment. It's like if you're starting out in basketball, and someone is calling you the next Michael Jordan. I'm like, 'thank you,' " said Donaire.

"It's a compliment, but I'm just going to keep doing what I need to do and follow in his footsteps. I'm just going to follow the blueprints that he has put forth because he's given me the inspiration to go as far as I can with my abilities," said Donaire. "I want to enjoy each moment, and not be complacent. I want to keep moving on and see how far I can go with it."

Nicknamed "The Filipino Flash," Donaire has a 22-fight winning streak, with knockouts against seven of his past nine opponents.

If Donaire defeats Hernandez on Saturday night at Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico, he would like a shot at 31-year-old, WBO bantamweight (118 pounds) champion Fernando Montiel (41-2-2, 31 KOs).

But first Montiel would have to get beyond a July 17 clash with 34-year-old Eric Morel (42-2, 21 KOs), whom he will meet in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico.

Montiel is coming off of April's fourth-round knockout over Hozumi Hasegawa, this after having scored February's first-round knockout over Ciso Morales.

"I made it clear that this fight against Marquez is the very last time that I will reach 115, and then, I'm going up to 118 pounds. And if I get a title shot at 118, I might stay there for maybe one fight. And then, I want to move up to 122. If I was to beat Montiel, and then, there was a good offer on the table at 118, then, you know what? I might stay at 118 for maybe for one more fight," said Donaire.

"But after that, you know, I'm really going to be willing to move up," said Donaire. "Because there are a lot of guys up at the higher weights who have a good name, and, I'm willing to mix it up with them. I'll be more comfortable at the higher levels than staying at 118 pounds if there isn't anything else."

In Marquez, of Empalme, Sonora, Mex., Donaire is meeting a 21-year-old southpaw with an excellent record of 27-1, with 20 knockouts even as he comes off of his first loss in March by 10-round unanimous decision against 23-year-old Richie Mepranum (22-2-1, five KOs) of Maasim, Saragani, Philippines.

"For me, in every fight, the most satifying victory is a knockout victory, and I always go for the knockout victory if I see it. The biggest thing that I want to show is that everybody knows that this guy has never been down. He's made a big deal out of the fact that he had a bad day in his last fight against Mepranum," said Donaire.

"Marquez said that he's never been down, and that he's been in with some really tough guys, and that he's a tough fighter. So it's a big challenge in my head that hey, 'I'm going to take him out,'" said Donaire. "It would be a satisfying victory that I want, and if I can do it, I will. But I'm going to be smart about it. If the opportunity is there, I will take the opportunity."

For nearly the past three months, Donaire has encorporated nearly three months of supplemental and special training under former BALCO founder, Victor Conte, who now runs the Scientific Nutrition for Advanced Conditioning (SNAC) and provides legal sports nutritional products and nutritional supplements.

Part of Donaire training involves altitude workouts conducted on a specialized "machine called a hypoxicator," said Conte, whose SNAC facility "is a couple of blocks down from the Undisputed Boxing Gym there in San Carlos where Nonito holds his boxing workouts."

The altitude simulation "will help Nonito in the later rounds," said Conte, "when the other guy is fatigued."

"This is experimental for me. I'm experimenting with the hypoxicator, and I'm experimenting with the supplements. I'm experimenting with myself to see what makes me feel good, and I'm definitely used to it. It's like nothing to me. I'm still sparring better and I'm still going 12 rounds with it. There's more red blood cells in my system and I'm going like the energizer bunny," said Donaire.

"On the night of the fight, I expect to be 100 percent. I'm cutting down a lot of weight, and it is hard to drop the weight because I have a lot more muscle," said Donaire. "But once I get going, though, I just get going. Whether it goes two rounds or 12 rounds, I'm ready for it. I feel that whatever I've trained for, the energy is going to be there."

Donaire began the year wanting to get in four bout in 12 months. One fight that fell through was a scheduled, Aug. 21 rematch with Armenian-born WBC and WBA super flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan, of Austrailia.

A southpaw who is nicknamed, "The Raging Bull," Darchinyan is 7-1-1, with five knockouts since suffering a July 2007 fifth-round knockout loss to Donaire.

On May 5, the bout was officially called off, with both sides -- Donaire's Top Rank Promotions and Darchinyan's promoter Gary Shaw -- claiming that the other pulled out.

"I stayed at 115 for the longest time, hoping we could make the fight happen and the fight was already scheduled for August 21st. When I came in to sign the contract, on that very day that Top Rank flew us in, Darchinyan decided not to fight me so I don't know. I gave him the opportunity to fight me. A chance to have his rematch with me and to once and for all settle it, but he didn't want to do it, so I had to move on," Donaire told Boxingscene.com

"The August 21 date was already set," said Donaire. "It is frustrating. I am just disappointed that we had made the fight happen and Showtime had fully agreed to it and had already helped put the promotion together. I am ready to move up in weight and start gaining more titles if I can. I am not going to wait for you guys any longer. I am going to try to see what I can get at the 118 and 122 division."

Source: boxing.fanhouse.com

Mepranum upsets Marquez -- The Ring

By Doug Fischer, The Ring

DALLAS, Texas -- Filipino flyweight prospect Richie Mepranum spoiled the U.S. debut of Mexico’s popular Hernan Marquez on Friday, out-pointing the undefeated junior bantamweight standout in the 10-round main event of a Fox Sports Net-televised card at the Gaylord Texan Convention center, the host hotel site of the Manny Pacquiao-Clottey fight.

Mepranum (17-2-1, 3 knockouts), who won by scores of 99-91, 98-92 and 96-94, stuck and moved efficiently against the aggressive but less accurate Marquez (27-1, 20 KOs).

In the co-featured bout, former heavyweight titleholder Samuel Peter (34-3, 27 KOs) looked sharp dispatching rangy prospect Nagy Aguliera (15-3, 10 KOs) in two rounds in an elimination bout for one of the belts.

Peter, who weighed in at 237½ pounds for the fight -- his lightest in nine years -- was fast and devastating, dropping Aguliera with a body shot early in the second round before overwhelming the 23-year-old former amateur standout against the ropes.

In the non-televised opening bout of the Top Rank-promoted show Anthony Peterson (30-0, 20 KOs) , THE RING’s No. 6-rated lightweight, dominated the shopworn Juan Ramon Cruz (16-7-1, 12 KOs) to a third-round KO. Peterson dropped Cruz once in the second round and twice in the third.

Welterweight fringe contender Dennis Laurante (34-3-4, 17 KOs), a Filipino southpaw who is managed by Pacquiao, narrowly outboxed the badly faded but still very game veteran Ben Tackie (29-12-1, 17 KOs) over eight rounds. Lautante won by scores of 78-74 and 77-75 (twice). Some members of the media believed Tackie deserved the nod.

Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Omar Henry (8-0, 7 KOs) demolished Mexico’s Francisco Reza (5-2, 4 KOs) 33 seconds into the opening round of their scheduled six rounder.

Heavyweight prospect Andy Ruiz (3-0, 3 KOs) had an easy time stopping hapless Luke Vaughn (0-2) in the first round of the their scheduled four rounder.

Source: ringtv.com

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