This weekend on July 7th from the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, pound-for-pound Filipino sensation Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire (28-1, 18 KO?s) will be looking to capture a second different title in as many fights in only his second appearance at 122 pounds. And in this rare circumstance which is a feat all by itself, they say Nonito literally has a tall order in taking on a much lengthier IBF champion in Jeffery ?Marvelous Mongoose? Mathebula (26-3-2, 14 KO?s) of South Africa. For besides rendering Nonito? usual height advantage non-existent, Mathebula is a little known quantity who represents a stern and uncertain challenge by virtue of the fact that he is quite skilled as well. And in this confrontation between two champions where it could be said that each man is trying to further unify the division, the higher expectations are no doubt leaning in the direction of the Filipino fighter, who, ranked #4 on the planet, has supposedly trained the hardest he has ever trained in preparation to face what he considers the unexpected. With Donaire alluding to the fact that his efforts exceeded that of past training camps, does this in and of itself signify that the Filipino fighter cruised through the bantamweight division without exerting himself to the fullest? According to him that?s apparently the case indeed, so that perhaps we should excitedly expect more from Nonito in this fight and beyond. After knocking out Vic Darchinyan in 2008, the San Leandro, California transplant? confidence has soared, of which a big knockout in a big fight sometimes has the capacity to do. ?The Filipino Flash? had just come to the realization of how talented he really was. Combine that with his size and athleticism, then this surely factored in heavily as regards his overall domination of the flyweight division up to bantamweight. But that size advantage will be but a distant memory when he steps into the ring this Saturday. And with the jury still out on where the Filipino sits in the division currently ranked behind Nishioka and Rigondeaux, more importantly his power is still in question at 122 pounds, especially considering he couldn?t put away an outgunned Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. during a title acquisition just one fight ago. In Nonito? defense though, he did put Wilfredo down even though perhaps suffering the effects of a popped vein in his left hand which may have prevented him from finishing off the hapless Puerto Rican pugilist. No matter though, as Donaire would still convincingly garner the WBO belt by virtue of his being the more skilled fighter who?s agility far surpassed that of his most recent opponent. But make no mistake, Donaire has every right to feel that he his in for a test in facing Mathebula this Saturday, not only because the South African is the much rangier fighter, but he?s a champion and for good reason. For Jeffery Mathebula seems to do many things well at a relatively high level. He can fight forward or back, he has a good jab and throws in combination. Moreover he?s elusive while his defense up to this point has obviously been sufficient. In other words he is a well rounded fighter who?s talents have allowed him to become a world champion. And if any liabilities exist on the part of the visiting fighter, they come in the form of Mathebula squaring up from time to time so as to make himself a presentable target, with the crux of the matter being that the South African plain and simple lacks punching power. In light of that, and for what Nonito has been criticized for by some as regards his lack of utilizing a jab, ironically throwing the jab on a limited basis is just what the doctor may have ordered here. I?m not suggesting Donaire dispense or downplay the role of the jab, but with perhaps as much as a four inch reach disparity in combination with Mathebula not being a big puncher, Nonito may be best served by using the jab ala Mike Tyson, jabbing not to set up his usual combinations, but rather using that particular punch just to make his way inside where he needs to set up camp and do damage. Firing off short shots and using angles if the Filipino? power doesn?t take effect right away if at all, seems to be the ticket for Donaire if he is to be successful. And working effectively inside is not only par for the course, but Nonito will have to wear down the African fighter to perhaps keep him where he wants, especially if he is having success at infighting. With various pundits claiming that this fight represents a walk in the park for Nonito, I think he?s going to have to get in there and earn it, not only from the point of view that Mathebula may be able to use his height as well as the ring to his advantage, but he can fight relatively well in close. Again, with it being questionable how much effect Donaire? power will have, Mathebula will find out in a relatively short time whether he is able to stand in and trade from time to time with his opponent. Otherwise it maybe off to the races for ?The Mongoose? if indeed Nonito can sting the IBF champion, or through an accumulation of punches begin to win a battle of attrition. So the question?s are in this fight, will Nonito effectively make his way inside first of all to outpoint his adversary or even gain a stoppage? Will Mathebula be able to outfox and outbox his counterpart in what is sure to be a tough place to get a decision as the away fighter? If South African fighters are known for anything it?s their stamina and their resolve to keep fighting. And in this instance if the highly ranked Donaire can?t find a way to end matters before the limit fighting in the style of a smaller man, or at least slow his opponent down to outpoint Mathebula, it will perhaps end up a two way battle with the end result uncertain. Of course uncertainty is what the sport of competitive boxing should be about. Whether it?s too tall an order for Nonito Donaire remains to be seen. For Mathebula see?s this as his opportunity to shine in a big way and he will give it his all in what?s surely to be another test for the Filipino. And if Donaire passes this exam as many have already concluded he will, it?s been said that a bout with Jorge Arce is on the table. A match up with Arce is supposedly to determine who will have bragging rights in the division even though the esteemed Mexican veteran Arce currently holds no title, a laugher to be sure if you happen to go by the name of Guillermo Rigondeaux. And where at one point I wholly favored Donaire to clean out the junior featherweight division en-route to venturing up to the lightweight ranks where at some point I originally surmised he would face the first real significant challenge of his career, I have since changed my opinion. After a couple of poor television outings on the part of the highly touted Cuban amateur recently turned pro Guillermo Rigondeaux, the outstanding prodigy has not only come around a bit to show his mettle, but he has emerged to pose a most significant challenge to Donaire or anyone else in or near the junior featherweight division. As a matter of fact, Guillermo? talents have risen to the surface in a big way so that a contest between Donaire and Rigondeaux has not only generated much public interest as of late, but many feel that Donaire may be handed a setback if this potential match up were ever to take place. While the Filipino dismissed Rigondeaux as a less than appealing ultra-conservative fighter who would stink the place out, the Cuban fired back by not only saying that he would render Nonito a full time photographer, but that he would further fight him in a fifteen foot ring so as to give the impression he would cave in as had former Donaire opponent Omar Narvaez. Only time will tell if a Donaire-Rigondeaux contest will come to fruition, or even if that bout is up for consideration by Bob Arum under whom both Rigondeaux and Donaire are contracted. What is sure is that fight fans would be riveted to this potential contest, so much so that if this bout were to never take place, it would fly in the face of the Filipino? assertions that he?s intent on collecting all the belts on his way to becoming the division?s undisputed champion. In days gone by when top fighters matched against other top fighters was par for the course, preserving the image and or records as a selling point has lessened the significance of the sport. In fact, this logic has worked against itself in the long run as opposed to maybe the desired short term gains of promoters who are less interested in giving fans the best fights. In other words, Arum may be looking for Donaire to replace Pacquiao as his monied interest at the expense of another avoided Cuban, and at the expense of a dwindling fan base. Let?s hope not, as I am sure that Donaire will at some point be up to the challenge. As to Jorge Arce being Nonito? next potential opponent, perhaps bailing out, and/or wrenching out a no-contest decision in a bout where hard hitting Jesus Rojas looked to be taking it to the storied Mexican fighter, it?s no sure bet Jorge would put on the kind of showing he has in the past when confronted with Donaire. All speculation of course, but there are other players in the division along with Rigondeaux who a victorious Donaire will be staring at if he becomes a unified champion. Two of those names include former champion Toshiaki Nishioka and current WBC title holder Abner Mares, fighters most likely be in attendance this weekend. First things first though, as this Saturday on HBO?s Boxing After Dark [BAD] at 10pm ET/PT, Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? has to handle his business against Jeffery ?Marvelous Mongoose? Mathebula who has plans of his own to gain recognition as one of the more formidable fighters in the junior featherweight division, as well as in the world. Tune in to see what comes of this intriguing bout, as well as what it portends for the future. Also to be featured in the co-main event is comebacking former world champion Kelly Pavlik from Youngstown, Ohio who will face off with contender Will ?Power? Rosinsky of New York.
