Nonito Donaire (Photo : Chris Farina/Top Rank)
One of the quickest falls from grace in boxing is that of the story of Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire (35-3, 23 KO's), who once enjoyed being considered up as high as third position in the sport's mythical top ten pound-for-pound best fighters.
Today, Donaire can be found nowhere near boxing's elite ranks.
However, since he lost to current unified bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux last 2013, Donaire just hasn't been the same.
His knockout loss to Jamaican sensation, Nicholas Walters, last year, forced the Filipino-American to do some soul-searching.
Since the most recent setback, Donaire has strung together a nifty little run of two straight second-round knockouts, which didn't exactly come against the best opposition but regardless, Donaire showed he still has much left in the tank.
More importantly, Donaire has discovered that he wants to claw his way back up to the top.
Now, with the loss to Walters is behind him and the sting of being outboxed by Rigondeaux all but gone, Donaire is moving forward with his career in the best way possible, by reminding fans of what exactly he brings to the table -- unparalleled speed, athleticism, and power.
A fight between Donaire and the undefeated Brit, Scott Quigg (31-0, 23 KO's), is in the works for November, in England no less, and if this fight gets made it will be considered a true showdown of elite fighters.
Quigg hasn't beaten the type of fighters Donaire has, but the Filipino-American's name is as big as any. It will also mark Donaire's return to the spotlight.
Quigg's most impressive victory was his last one, a second round TKO of Kiko Martinez to retain his WBA world super bantamweight title. Donaire in contrast, has defeated the biggest names in and around his division, and is a more established figure compared to the 26-year old Quigg.
Quigg trained at Freddie Roach's Wild Card Boxing Gym in Hollywood to prepare for the Martinez fight and word around camp at the time is that Quigg is the real deal.
This fight poses an equal opportunity for both fighters as Quigg looks to use Donaire as a stepping stone to greater heights and Donaire looks to use Quigg as a springboard back into prominence.
One thing you have to admire about Donaire is his confidence. At 32-years of age and somewhat a step past his prime, Donaire still has the confidence of an undefeated young up-and-comer. That type of belief in oneself is hard to beat.
When you have fighters climbing going into fights without an inkling of doubt, it produces great results.
Then again, second-guessing himself isn't exactly a Donaire thing and when he climbs back into the spotlight against Quigg, only the boxing ring can give him the answers he seeks.
