Fernando Montiel Vs Nonito Donaire Countdown Thread......(poll added)

You can tell by the way that they interact with one another that there are no hard feelings between Nontio Donaire and Fernando Montiel. The two bantamweight pugilists, set to meet on February 19th for Montiel's WBC and WBO trinkets, have obvious admiration for one another and you would be hard pressed to find any tension between them when they are both in the same room.
But that doesn't mean they won't make for a great fight when they meet next month at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. Speaking at today's press conference at the Mizuya Lounge to announce their fight, the 31-year old Montiel spoke like a man with a slight chip on his shoulder when assessing the fight, which will serve as HBO's second big event of 2011 behind the January 29th Timothy Bradley-Devon Alexander junior welterweight unification tilt in Pontiac, Michigan.

"I have great respect for Donaire and his family," Montiel stated. "I have much respect outside of the ring but inside of the ring I have no respect and it won't last 36 minutes."

Those words shouldn't come as a surprise as Montiel has shown himself to be a calculated and cold-blooded assasin, most recently evidenced on the big stage by his shocking 4th round upset over then-champion Hozumi Hasegawa in Japan last April. In that contest Montiel started slow before stunning Hasegawa with a huge left hand and finishing him off along the ropes with a flurry of punches moments later. Montiel's back was against the wall heading into the fight but the victory rejuvinated his career.

Montiel noted that this will be his last fight at 118 pounds, as he hinted at moving up to the junior featherweight division following the bout. But that certainly doesn't mean that his business with Donaire would be finsihed, as he made mention of facing his Fil-Am foe for a return bout.

"I am preparing myself for two wars and I know there will be a rematch after this fight and I will win that as well."

On striking statistic that was revealed during the press conference was the fact that despite his contender status, Donaire is opening up as -180 betting favorite over his Los Mochis, Mexico foe. Asked for his take on those odds, Montiel's demeanor was that of a veteran savoring the moment.

"I'm not worried about Nonito being the favorite. Bet on me and get ready to make money. This is the fight I am looking for. It's the type of fight that motivates me."


:blurp

 

wat odds are -180 :think

 

:good

 

Earlier today the second leg of the Fernando Montiel-Nonito Donaire press tour rolled on to Los Angeles, California and just like the festivities yesterday in Las Vegas, there seemed to be little in terms of animosity between either man. It's obvious that this clash, taking place on February `19th at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada for Montiel's WBC and WBO bantamweight titles, will only truly be heated when the two participants set foot inside of the ring.
Fernando Montiel first became a champion over ten years ago when he defeated Isidro Garcia for the WBO flyweight crown and following that performance he became a familiar face on HBO's airwaves, fighting some of the most formidable little men in the sport. The last time he would see action on the sport's premier network was his disappointing split-decision loss to Jhonny Gonzalez in May of 2006 and he seems thrilled to be back.

"I fought on HBO in 2006 and people said it would be the last time. Guess what? I'm back!" an emphatic Montiel claimed of his showcase with Donaire.

The fight marks Donaire's biggest as a professional and his first time on such a big stage since his July 2007 upset over trash-talking Vic Darchinyan. Following that victory, one in which he iced his Armenian foe with a beautiful left hook, Donaire failed to capitalize on any momentum tied to that performance and he seems to realize how bright the light is shining on he and Montiel.

"The little guys are deprived of the big promotions and we will put on a good fight. We will talk inside the ring."

There was a definite buzz in Las Vegas at yesterday's presser but you got the definite sense that Donaire was the star of the show, further evidenced by the betting lines that have him pegged as a nearly 2-1 favorite. I spoke with Showtime analyst Al Bernstein about the contest and he told me he has so much belief in Donaire's talents that he sees him as the man to beat below 118 and possibly even 122 pounds.

People at the Mizuya Lounge went as far as to toss around the idea of Donarie one day facing off with WBO feathweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez, one of the more capable champions in the sports. An intriguing scenario for sure but Donaire has risky business in front of him in the form of Montiel, a tried and true veteran looking to once again defy the odds.