THE AMAZING THAT IS: NONITO DONAIRE JR.
Perfect! Awesome! Spectacular…!
Knock-Out of the Year? For the second time to his credit – Yes!
THE LEFT HOOK
It’s the perfect left hook once again. And the Mexican warrior Fernando Montiel sank flat deep onto the canvas. The motors in his nerves jerked some assymmetrical sub-transients and the ensuing voltage dip triggered spasmodic convulsions on Montiel’s legs. Then the senses estranged from the soul whilst the world suddenly shut-out from Montiel’s wits.
It was brief! Game over in 5 minutes & 25 seconds - so to speak. I had seen it before when Ricky Hatton once journeyed to the wonderland – also in the second round.
Then, the Mexican warrior’s heart took over the brains but only to do a copy-cat Chicken Dance… I had also seen it before with the cocky Vic Darchinyan in his infamous boogie - courtesy of the same devastating razor-sharp left hook from the same origin. To recall, it was the first ‘Knock-Out of the Year’ in Nonito’s name.
Both Darchinyan and Montiel didn’t see it. All that happened was just a flash-over. Brutal but swift, both did not comprehend how it was done. Of course in Nonito, the Sidorenko fight looked deceptively easy. The Darchinyan episode likewise seemed chicken feed - in fact many called it a fluke. And the highly touted Montiel war was after all, the simplest.
Boxing Made Easy, so to speak – that’s Nonito’s trademark. That must be the reason why boxers with big names are avoiding Nonito like a plague.
THE RISE OF A SUPERSTAR
Then, a Superstar is born. That’s NONITO DONAIRE, JR., the Filipino.
The usual 'pakilala' & ‘pagkilala’ in Round 1 saw Nonito dominating the canto. Focused and with the effective long shots as expected, he finished the round unscathed, but successfully delivered samples of power left hooks and right straights which found its mark to the face and to the body of the Mexican. Five or six times, I thought. The Mexican must have tasted the crispy bites.
The second Round was supposed to be Montiel’s. He had to recover the first round loss. He already discerned the fabric of the fight and if the fight conditions continued, he would surely lose. He had to deliver his own punctuation marks as the best bantamweight of the world. Then Nonito dropped his left arm seemingly allowing Montiel to hit him. With a series of successful hits, this boosted the Mexican’s confidence. This was then his opportunity - the very Nonito's mistake he'd been waiting for.
As I was about to comment that Donaire’s strategy in Round 2 was wrong; Montiel unleashed a big right cross. And while Montiel's killer right cross still in mid-air, a flash of lightning occurred. Then at the corner of my eye I saw Montiel on the canvas - his legs in involuntary spasm, pupils of his eyes immobile leering out to nowhere. I can’t believe it! How did it happen?
Of course the Mexican warrior got to his feet after a second attempt. I shouted to the TV; “Ref no! Don’t stop the fight!” Let the two best bantamweights of the world show what they can offer. I had watched several of Montiel's fights including that with Z. Gorres. Like a diesel engine, Montiel becomes more efficient when heated up and his durability outstanding. The knock down could have only been a lapse and tide might equalize in a little while. The Referee did let the fight continue even as Montiel did not respond properly. It was a double-world championship bout - it could not just be terminated in the ordinary way… The rest is history… There’s no way that Montiel can redeem his acumen at the moment.
I now understand why the Filipino is called “THE FLASH”. It was only after the replays and the slo-mos that made me recognize the flashy but masterful explosion of that perfectly timed counter left hook that caused the short circuits in both Darchinyan’s and Montiel’s systems. It was after all, ninjaic magic. But it was real – again, another perfect execution of a sweet science. In Engr. Tony Gicum Jr.’s words, “the piercing left hook in full-torque hitting the temple – bulls-eye.”
SPEED, POWER & INTELLIGENCE 
Sporting a record of 44W-2L with 34 KO’s before the eventual clash with Nonito, no one had ever knocked down Montiel in his 15 year professional career. Montiel had always been feared as an adept ring scientist, but he had no cure for Donaire’s speed, reach, quickness, intelligence and power. He had no option except to mix it up and enforce his own devastating knock-out power but only to dwell on Donaire’s Black Hole trap. Yes, the Black Hole trap left a hairline fracture on Montiel's cheekbone.
Now 26W–1L with 18 KO’s; no doubt that the “Filipino Flash” displayed flashing speed, athletic prowess and wicked power that are all amazing. “I don’t think any bantamweight stands a chance with him,” Arum said. “Maybe we go up to 122. But I think the big, big fights are at 126.”
It meant that to Bob Arum, the names Abner Mares, Joseph Agbeko, Yonnhy Perez, and Vic Darchinyan are all passé. A clash with Juan Manuel Lopez of Puerto Rico must have been salivatingly palatable.
To NONITO DONAIRE, the new WBC and WBO Bantamweight Champion of the World; we are proud of you as a fellow Bol-anon and Filipino! You always have all our prayers and support.
Ayaw lang pag-congressman…. please.
Doods
2/20/11
