IT?S time to put on a bib, ladies and gentlemen. With the state of pro boxing nowadays where it?s easier to get in front of Butterbean at the buffet line than to get the top-tier fighters to face each other, Nonito Donaire Jr. vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux is as good as it gets.
For added mustard to what?s on our fistic plate today, apparently these two have begun to dislike each other so much, you can?t help but presume that this fight is going to end abruptly and violently.
Here?s how they stack up:
NONITO DONAIRE. RECORD: 31-1, 20KOs
STYLE: Powerful counter-puncher. He comes forward to stalk, but doesn?t really initiate the exchanges. Likes to study his opponent first then unleash his trademark hooks once an opening presents itself.
STRENGTHS: One-punch knockout power. Speed. Ring intelligence and generalship. Owns the best left-hook in the business. Comfortable switching to southpaw.
WEAKNESSES: Tendency to rely too much on power-punching and going for the knockout.
BEST PERFORMANCES: Fernando Montiel (KO2), Jorge Arce (KO3); Vic Darchinyan (KO5)
GUILLERMO RIGONDEAUX. RECORD: 11-0, 8KOs
STYLE: Fast, powerful boxer-puncher. Comes forward behind an aggressive jab and throws picture-perfect combinations.
STRENGTHS: Speed, power. Prolific amateur background.
WEAKNESSES. Can be a bit chinny. Lack of top notch pro level experience.
BEST PERFORMANCES. Robert Marroquin (UD); Teon Kennedy (TKO5); Rico Ramos (KO6)
ENIGMA. Rigo is seems to be bristling with confidence coming into this fight, but I?ll level with you guys. He?s an enigma and I don?t really know how good he is.
He has excellent amateur boxing pedigree, and so far has been impressive in his 11 pro fights. But that?s precisely my point.
If you only have 11 professional fights to your credit, and people are giving you a chance against someone as formidable as Donaire, then some of that inscrutability has to come from his amateur credentials.
But he?s already 32 years old and it?s difficult to gauge the odometer in the wear and tear department.
He certainly looks the part though and has power in both hands and possesses hand speed which could be comparable to Donaire?s. So expect the unexpected.
KEYS. For Nonito, he should let Rigo feel his power in the early rounds. Most of his opponents have fought scared and abandoned their game plans after sampling his concussive left hook and should the same misfortune befall Rigo, expect this to become one-sided.
Rigo should utilize his hand speed and land combinations. Donaire is partial towards ending the fight in a spectacular manner, but this could work to his disadvantage if Rigo can dictate the pace of the fight and win the rounds. He appears to have excellent stamina and he could pull of the upset if he hurts Donaire in the later rounds.
PRESSURE. With Pacquiao getting knocked out last year and Brian Viloria losing his flyweight belts last week, there is compelling pressure on Donaire to defend his crown and remain a world champion.
The ?Filipino Flash? will arguably be the best fighter Rigondeaux has ever faced and I think Donaire?s championship experience at the pro level will be instructive.
My faith in Donaire?s one-punch knockout power is undimmed and unbending. This will be the singular factor that will outweigh and banish any and all considerations.
Donaire by KO in 10 rounds.
LAST ROUND. It?s on Leizl Marie Ang-Siu who recently celebrated her birthday. Cheers!
