Guillermo Rigondeaux stole the show at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on Saturday as he won a unanimous decision over Nonito Donaire. Donaire just happened to be Fighter of the Year for 2012, and was in the top tier of the pound-for-pound rankings going into his encounter with Rigondeaux.
Despite his undefeated record and status as WBA super-bantamweight (or junior featherweight; either way, the division?s limit is 122 lbs), The 32-year-old Rigondeaux was an underdog against Donaire. Rigondeaux was a legend in the amateur ranks, having won Olympic gold for Cuba in 2004 and 2008. He defected in 2009 to pursue a pro career in the United States. In a total of only 11 pro fights since then, he had won the WBA?s version of the 122-pound championship.
The question about Rigondeaux has always been whether or not he could adapt the superlative skills he had acquired as an amateur to the different requirements of the pro game ? the game at which Donaire excels. The Cuban answered that question definitively by making Donaire look like the one who was the amateur. The ?Filipino Flash,? who is both a dangerous puncher and an intelligent boxer, was simply unable to do anything with the will-o?-the-wisp floating in front of him. Rigondeaux was able to land any punch he wanted; Donaire could barely land anything at all.
Only once did Donaire do what he was expected to do. In the tenth round, he landed one of his explosive lefts to Rigondeaux?s jaw, sending the Cuban to the deck. Rigondeaux shook off the effects of the punch and was taking the fight to Donaire in the final round. When the final gong sounded, Rigondeaux had ? in only his 12th professional bout ? decisively defeated a man who was not only the best fighter in his division, but also arguably the best pound-for-pound.
Despite his significant accomplishment on Saturday, Rigondeaux still has his share of detractors. During the middle rounds of the fight, some fans booed even as the Cuban conducted a clinic in defensive boxing against a dangerous puncher. The knockdown he suffered in the 10th is considered by the nay-sayers to be an indication that Guillermo has a glass jaw. But Donaire packs enough dynamite in his fists to floor anyone he is able to hit solidly. Getting decked by Donaire is no disgrace. For Donaire?s part, getting flustered by a style he couldn?t solve is no disgrace, either.
Rigondeaux is reminiscent of a fighter from the past who was also an amateur standout ? an Olympic gold medal winner whose defense-oriented style was considered boring and boo-worthy. This fighter also found himself on the floor fairly often, but he got up to win. In his prime, he was considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. His name: Pernell Whitaker.
If Rigondeaux continues his mastery in the punch-for-pay ranks, he will one day join ?Sweet Pea? in boxing?s Hall of Fame. As for Donaire, he?ll be there, too. This loss doesn?t detract from the overall quality of his career.
Rigondeaux may have the style to beat Donaire every time they meet, but Donaire can still whip anyone else in the division. And if he manages to make the proper adjustments in his strategy, he could conceivably reverse his loss to Rigondeaux in a rematch.
