Nonito Donaire looks to continue his climb up the Pound for Pound rankings with a victory over Toshiaki Nishioka when the two do battle for Donaire?s WBO and IBF Super Bantamweight title. The fight also carries more significance as the vacant WBC Diamond Super Bantamweight as while as The Ring titles will be up for grab.
Toshiaki Nishioka can thank Jorge Arce for pricing himself out of a fight with Donaire and getting a career high payday as well as the opportunity to record his best win to date. Nishioka has been a fixture over in Japan, where he hasn?t lost since 2006 and has compiled victories over top contenders. The list includes Jhonny Gonzalez, Jesus Garcia, Ivan Hernandez, and most recently Rafael Marquez. The match against Marquez took place back in November of last year and was highly anticipated. In was a highly contested fight with Nishioka taking advantage of Marquez coming straight at him and countered by landing left hooks, while moving out of the way of Marquez?s right hand. The crowd was entertained for 12 rounds and although Marquez claims he won, the right man (Nishioka) was award the unanimous decision.
?The Filipino Flash? is looking to add to his collection of belts as he continues his ascension up the weight classes. The hard hitting Donaire is best known for his combination of speed and power, similar to Manny Pacquiao. Donaire has not suffered a defeat since his second professional fight all the way back in 2001, an impressive streak for any top notch fighter. Donaire has also moved up 4 weight classes in the past five years, from flyweight all the way up to his current division of super bantamweight. In Donaire?s most recent clash, he fought Jeffery Mathebula of South Africa. Mathebula had a huge height and reach advantage over Donaire, as he found it hard to get inside against Mathebula. Donaire was able to knockdown Mathebula in the 4th round and cracked his tooth in the later rounds. It was a tough fight for Donaire but he was able to walk away with a unanimous decision.
Prediction: Nishioka has not fought since his victory against Marquez back in November 2011 citing personal reasons for his long delay. Not sure what the personal reasons were but he could not have picked a tougher opponent to come back against in Donaire. Donaire on the other hand has his work cut out for him and the power he displayed in the lower weight classes appears to have been reduced with the added weight. Who to pick? Well I always lean to the big name fighter in a close fight because his camp has more to lose and bigger opportunities are looming ahead for Donaire provided he is the winner. I think Donaire will win a tough fight that goes the distance and is a full of action. I would probably give Nishioka a better chance at an upset if he fought more recently, but I think the long layoff will be too much to overcome. I could make a case for the Under 9.5 but I am not sure Donaire has the same punching power he possessed at a lower weight. With that in mind, I think there is more value getting Donaire at -220 and that is the free play.
