The Boxing Truth - Is The Puppetmaster At Work Again With Montiel Vs. Donaire?

Is the puppetmaster at work again with Montiel vs. Donaire?
by Ricardo Lois

Jul 22, 2010 -

Boxing fans have come to expect the worst.

If you think the self-loathing typical of Boston Red Sox fans before their World Championship in 2004 was tops in sports, talk to a true-blue boxing fan right about now.

But can we blame these poor action deprived souls?

Fans are regularly teased with marquee match-ups by promoters that fail to materialize for one senseless reason or another.

Boxing’s loyal, but damaged fan base, attempts to remain positive and hopeful for a better future, believing that great match-ups will sprout up from a barren landscape characterized by territorial, short sighted promoters, and fighters overly concerned about finances.

In the minds of the faithful the reign of Mike Tyson, epic battles between Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales, and the fan friendly rivalries of Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran, Marvin Hagler, and Ray Leonard were not that long ago, were they?

During the last two weeks we have heard much a do about a possible bantamweight bout between Mexico’s Fernando Montiel and Filipino Nonito Donaire. This proposed bantamweight bout would pit two of the best gladiators in or around the 118 pound limit.

Still feeling the sting of a point-less midnight conference by Top Rank’s Bob Arum to announce that Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather are highly unlikely to appear in a ring together in 2010, fans look to Donaire veruses Montiel for world-class entertainment in the absence of the biggest possible fight.

In several media outlets, Arum has made it clear that a November bout between Montiel and Donaire is on the docket, a done deal.

But with a critical mind and suspicious heart when it comes to pugilism, I found it odd that while Arum was very vocal, Montiel’s promoter Fernando Beltran was being very silent in the Mexican and Latin American press.

Then on Monday Montiel told Mexican new source ESTO, that he was interested in fighting Vic Darchinyan, though fights with Donaire, and Puerto Rican Erik Morel have been talked about.

Why would Montiel call out the Armenian’s name if a fight with the Filipino was imminent?

Several calls on Tuesday and Wednesday to Fernando Beltran’s personal cellphone were fruitless. The man who guided Morales’ legendary career was not available to discuss Montiel’s fight with Donaire.

Wednesday evening I was able to reach Montiel in Mexico to discuss his fight with Nonito Donaire, which according to Arum is a done deal.

Montiel’s comments were not positive.

“To be honest, I have not heard anything about Donaire, or anyone else,” said Montiel.

“I want those big fights, against those biggest names, but I have heard nothing from my promoter Fernando Beltran regarding a fight with Donaire.”

Maybe Arum and Beltran have already agreed to terms, but I find it hard it to believe that a man like Beltran, who is a master at working with fighters and getting them into the fights they need and fans want, would not have discussed the terms for a fight against Donaire with Montiel.

I hope I am wrong, but I see Arum once again negotiating and promoting in the press and dictating terms with nothing but his own imagination and agenda to stand on.

truth@theboxingtruth.com