Donaire v Gomez at SBW?

I've always liked Montiel a lot. Hard, sneaky puncher with a deceptive reach and unpredictable edge to him. Been about a long time too. But a great/near-great fighter or great/near-great talent? No. Not even a very good one, even when he was younger at the lower weights. Too sloppy and caught between styles with a habit of not turning up when it mattered eg. against vulnerable Gonzalez and past it Too Sharp. Decent win against Hasegawa though where he showed what I've always liked about him. He was getting hammered though before he turned it round. I picked Donaire to beat him clearly enough but thought that he might be dangerous if he could get going and Donaire didn't show him any respect. But of course it never happened that way.

Whatever the alphabet belts say, the prime Montiels and Nishiokas of the world are no better than lots of decent, solid contenders from years gone by who sometimes never won titles and whose names appeared pretty frequently on most great fighter's records. Sydorenko even moreso. And that isn't a slight on them or their careers; they still have my respect. Darchinyan is maybe half a notch better as a scalp, but him, Montiel and Nishioka to me are the only notable names on Donaire's record other than the toiling efforts against Marquez, Narvaez, Vasquez Jr etc. It's been quite impressive the way he's dealt with the first 3 though. He might be the real deal like you say, but he needs to do a fair bit more to prove it imo, and we'll know better once his career is nearer to it's close. As things currently stand, too many people are willing to crack one out over him because of how much better he looks than the chaff surrounding him and, like JM Marquez, he can throw a punch with the proper technique where the majority can't. Makes him stand out a lot more than it would if there was any depth in the talent pool. Not Donaire's fault, of course. He can only beat who's in front of him.

If greatness comes for him, and it well might do, I think it will be like I said because of the weight jumping, numbers and dominance rather than any great names on his record or an ATG skill set/talent. He has skill, technique and talent but it's less prevalent than his speed and power imo. I'd be comfortable saying that I've watched plenty of lower weight fighters who had greater skill sets and proven toughness.

The light that you seem to be trying to project on to him is some way from reality imo, if you think that his abilities and achievements outweigh Gomez's at super bantam or that he's the greatest h2h bantam. Or that he'd knock out Fenech tbh, that one is a bit baffling.

Each to their own, I suppose. You seem like the decent, earnest sort and you're clearly not an idiot so we'll leave it that at that.

 

Both Gomez and Fenech would obliterate this guy

 

How do you like Moreno's chances against Donaire? He's a fighter with a big reputation whom I haven't seen that much of and am trying to get up to speed on. Reminds me a bit so far of a less talented Zapata.

 

Agbeko beat Vic pretty easily IMO, could not miss with the right hand.

Mares put the controversy of the first fight to clearly put himself past King Kong in the rematch.

Still, I reckon Moreno wins.

 

My gut feeling says he may get robbed.

 

Mine too!

 

Sorry to be pedantic but Montiel was finished on his feet regardless of how gone he was (completely)

 

Horrific but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Didn't balance out all the early stoppages we see nowadays

 

I reckon I'd surprise you if I listed all the guys I think Donaire could (hypothetically) beat. I won't list them but trust me, I'm not shitting on the guy.