Nonito Donaire looks to make statement in Garden

In the aftermath of his devastating second-round stoppage of Fernando Montiel in February, WBC and WBO bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire was under the impression he was a free agent and left Top Rank to sign with Golden Boy. After some legal wrangling, it was determined Top Rank's contract was valid, and he reconciled with promoter Bob Arum.

The process might have been messy, but in the end, Donaire received what he was seeking: star treatment from Top Rank and a promise to put his career on the launchpad bound for greater fame and riches. Their relationship begins anew Saturday at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, where Donaire (26-1, 18 KOs) defends his titles against unbeaten Argentine Omar Narvaez (35-0-2, 19 KOs) in the feature bout on HBO's "Boxing After Dark" series.

"I have no regrets about what happened," Donaire said of the temporary split. "I'm a man who values his style of fighting in the ring, and he should be valued by the people he works with. I have gained that respect from my promoter . . . It's just an understanding that I want to fight the best out there, and that's what they're going to deliver."

Narvaez is a two-time world champion at flyweight and super flyweight, but this will be his first fight in the United States and only his second in the bantamweight class. Fans should arrive early because Donaire has an overwhelming power advantage and is looking to make a statement in his last fight at 118 before moving up in search of bigger paydays.

If he handles Narvaez as expected, Donaire plans to go to 122 possibly to challenge WBC superbantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka. Sometime next year, he might jump to the 126-pound featherweight class in the hope of fighting either Yuriorkis Gamboa or Juan Manuel Lopez, both of whom are Top Rank fighters and drawing cards Arum won't risk easily.

"I want to do my best, and what's going to get me close to that is fighting the best, Gamboa or Juan Ma. That's what I'm aiming for. I don't know how well I'm going to do against them, but one thing for sure, I don't back out from a good fight."

Gamboa recently said he doesn't believe Donaire is a big enough name even though he's high on most pound-for-pound lists, but that's why you fight at Madison Square Garden and it's to build that profile on the New York stage. Donaire ultimately hopes to show he can carry his power up in weight as effectively as Filipino countryman Manny Pacquiao.

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Not long ago, Donaire said he was walking around at 147 and, while sparring with 16-ounce gloves, knocked out a sparring partner who weighed 170. "When I tune it up and I have that weight in my arms, it's about how I deliver my punches with proper timing and balance," Donaire said. "I can always generate power and speed."

Donaire's stoppage of Montiel was proof of that, and Narvaez will have to call on all his experience to avoid a similar fate.