Uppercut Magazine.com - Nonito and Mikey

Nonito Donaire and Mikey Garcia Hit New York

By David A. Avila

A pair of knockout specialists hit Manhattan when speedy veteran Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire and Riverside’s rising star Mikey Garcia make their New York City splash debuts this weekend.

Donaire (26-1, 18 KOs) defends the WBO and WBC bantamweight titles against Argentina’s Omar Narvaez (35-0-2, 19 KOs) on Saturday Oct. 22, at Madison Square Garden’s WaMu Theater. The Top Rank fight will be televised on HBO.

Despite weighing no more than 118 pounds the thin, always well-dressed Donaire has proven to be inch-for-inch one of the most powerful knockout artists today. If he were a heavyweight he would be the equal or better than both Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko.

“The cannon that Nonito has, not even all of the elite fighters have it.  You can be an elite fighter and not have that cannon,” said Robert Garcia, who trains Donaire.

Bob Arum, who has promoted the likes of Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Muhammad Ali, says Donaire’s knockout win over Mexico’s Fernando Montiel last February was exceptional.

“I’ve been around a long time and that was one of the most devastating punches I have ever seen,” said Arum. “He caved in Montiel’s face.  It was scary and it demonstrates to me that not only is Nonito a good boxer but he has lethal power in his hands and it’s going to be tough for anyone to beat him.”

But pure punching power is not a guarantee of victory. Donaire faces an Argentine boxer who has never been defeated and was also a former flyweight and junior bantamweight world champion.

“Narvaez is a credible fighter.  He is a champion and a legend in Argentina,” said Donaire, 28, who will be making the first and last defense of the bantamweight world championship. “Tests have showed that it (muscle mass) has increased from the last fight to the Montiel fight to now.  As you know, muscle is more difficult to shed that fat or water.  We want to be healthy and be at our best so 122 we are looking forward to.”

Narvaez, 36, goes by the nickname “El Huracan” and the diminutive southpaw will need that and more to contend with the much taller and possibly faster Donaire. It’s a match that could end suddenly. But smart boxers are always prepared for the long war.

“I always believe my power is enough to change the fight regardless of how many rounds it is.  I have said it over and over that the most satisfying victory is a knockout victory,” says Donaire. “But if I don’t get it I am ready for 12 rounds.  I train for 24 rounds like it’s nothing so we are always ready for the longest it can be or the shortest it can be.”

Mikey

In the semi-main event sharp-shooting Garcia (26-0, 22 KOs) makes his professional debut in Manhattan when he faces Mexico’s Juan Carlos Martinez (19-12-1, 7 KOs) in a featherweight bout set for 10 rounds.

“It my first time ever in New York and I’m excited,” said Garcia who was raised in Oxnard and recently moved to Riverside nearly two years ago. “I almost visited it a year ago but something came up and I had to cancel my flight.”

Garcia plans to be the last one standing when he fights Martinez.

Unlike Donaire whose blinding speed and movement results in quick, flashy knockouts. Garcia is more the blue collar worker who steadily moves forward looking for weaknesses before dismantling his opponents. He’s like a wrecking ball hitting strategic spots until the entire building collapses.

“Donaire has good hand speed and throws four-punch combinations,” explains Garcia whose brother Robert Garcia trains Donaire. “I stick to one or two punches at a time.”

No matter, the end result is usually a knockout for either Donaire or Garcia.

Martinez’s last fight was a split decision win over Filipino featherweight contender Bernabe Concepcion. He was not supposed to win but according to experts but the Mexican veteran used his vast experience in the featherweight showdown. His reward is a match with Garcia.

“I don’t overlook him,” says Garcia who is the number one featherweight contender in the world. “He’s (Martinez) fought all of the tough guys.”

Garcia hopes a win over Martinez certifies a date for the featherweight world title in the near future.

“I can’t wait to see New York,” Garcia said.

Fights on television

Fri. Showtime, 11 p.m., Edwin Rodriguez (19-0) vs. Will Rosinsky (14-0).

Fri. Telefutura, 11:30 p.m., Fidel Maldonado (11-0) vs. Eric Cruz (12-7-3).

Sat. HBO, 7:30 p.m., Nonito Donaire (26-1) vs. Omar Narvaez (35-0-2)