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DONAIRE IS THE UNDERDOG, WHILE FRAMPTON ADMITS A LOSS TO THE FILIPINO FLASH WILL END HIS CAREER By Maloney L. Samaco PhilBoxing.com Sat, 21 Apr 2018  Several boxing experts believe Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire will enter the ring as the underdog in his match against Ireland's Carl Frampton on Saturday evening in Belfast (Sunday morning Philippine time) for the interim WBO featherweight title. The winner will gain a title shot at Oscar Valdez's WBO featherweight belt. "Frampton is closer to his prime than Donaire," declared ESPN writer Nigel Collins as told to ABS-CBN. "Nonito was at his best as a flyweight, superflyweight and bantamweight. It was when he moved up to super bantam and featherweight that his decline began. Most of that was due age and numerous demanding fights against tough opposition, but fighting naturally larger men didn?t help." Collins also believes Frampton's hometown advantage at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland will make it "extremely difficult" for Donaire to get the decision of the judges in case the fight will turn out to be closely fought. CBS Sports' Brian Campbell also picked Frampton as the "clear favorite" considering his age, recent form, and how their skills are being matched up against each other. According to Campbell, Frampton was close to joining several pound-for-pound lists until his recent loss to Leo Santo Cruz. In the case of Donaire, he was no longer considered as one of the world's top pound-for-pound fighters since he was defeated by Guillermo Rigondeaux in 2013. While ABS-CBN Sports analyst Atty. Ed Tolentino opined that Frampton's style will give Donaire some difficulty. "Many believe that his aggressive style will wear down Donaire," said Tolentino. "He has won five of his last six fights, and has never been knocked out." "Donaire is definitely the underdog in this contest," he added. Frampton thinks that if he losses to Donaire it could mean the end of his boxing career. The Irish boxer fights former four-division world champion Donaire in his home turf at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The 31-year-old Frampton is aiming to become a world champion again like Donaire whom he respected so much and believes that a loss for any of the fighters could mean the end for one of their careers. ?Look at what he?s done in the ring and what?s he achieved. What I?ve done has been overshadowed by what he?s done. He?s a quality fighter and achieved a hell of a lot,? Frampton told iFL TV. ?He?s dangerous because I think we?re in a similar position maybe ? last chance saloon ? where a loss could be the end. I?m not thinking about that. I?ve done everything that?s been asked of me in training camp and I feel like it?s been a quality one,? he added. Frampton also believes experts and fans are underestimating Donaire and he is not one of them. ?I get the impression people are writing Donaire off [thinking he?s past it]. I?m not writing him off and that?s the important thing. I don?t think I can get carried away with that too much,? said Frampton. He said he is preparing for the best Donaire there has ever been. The Filipino Flash has a long training camp with a lot of time to prepare and is a solid professional. Donaire is a many time former world champion in four weight classes, having held the IBF flyweight title from 2007 to 2009; the unified WBC and WBO bantamweight titles in 2011; the IBF super bantamweight title in 2012; the WBO super bantamweight title twice between 2012 and 2016; and the WBA (undisputed) featherweight title in 2014. Donaire has held a total of seven world titles by the four major sanctioning bodies, as well as the IBO flyweight title from 2007 to 2009; the WBA interim super flyweight title from 2009 to 2010; and the Ring Magazine and lineal super bantamweight titles from 2012 to 2013. Donaire is a two-time winner of The Ring's Knockout of the Year award, in 2007 and 2011. He reached his highest pound for pound ranking of No. 3 by The Ring in 2011, and was named Fighter of the Year in 2012 by the Boxing Writers Association of America. As of January 2018, Donaire is ranked as the world's fourth best active super bantamweight by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board, and the tenth best active featherweight by BoxRec. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.  |
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