[8.5] FERNANDO MONTIEL 62-54(39)-6-2 [Featherweight & Super-Bantamweight & Bantamweight & Super-Flyweight & Flyweight]: ESPN online -
While still active, the highest probability is that Mexico’s Montiel has seen his last bout at Junior Bantamweight. His successful move up to 118 for an interim WBO title belt indicates a lasting future there or above. From a promising run as WBO titlist at 112 in the early 2000s, through two title runs at 115, Montiel has shown flashes of brilliance mixed in with some badly timed duds. His two losses both came on the HBO media platform and neither was a fight most would watch again voluntarily. There is a greater body of work well worth a second look.
He won his first Junior Flyweight title from undefeated Pedro Alcazar, a five round beating which contributed to Alcazar’s death shortly after the bout. With some heralding him as Mexico’s next superstar, he fought tentatively three fights later and dropped his title and a majority decision to Mark Johnson, a great fighter in his last great win. Undeterred, Montiel bounced back with three straight knockouts and regained his belt from the man who defeated Johnson in the interim, stopping undefeated Ivan Hernandez in seven. He added another undefeated scalp in defense two fights later, narrowly outpointing the tough Pramuansak Posuwan. A move to Bantamweight in 2006 resulted in a close but dull loss to WBO titlist Jhonny Gonzalez and Montiel hasn’t bored since. He traveled to the Philippines to defeat Z Gorres by split decision and, in a minor classic, stopped Luis Melendez in a fight which saw both men on the floor in 2007. Perhaps his finest win came in February 2008 on the pay-per-view undercard on Kelly Pavlik-Jermain Taylor II, a fourth round obliteration which ended the career of Martin Castillo. Regardless of what he does from here out, it’s a strong ledger at 115 likely to define history’s take on Montiel. ESPN online article Cliff Rold, ‘The Top 20 Junior Bantamweights of All Time’