Philippines, 12 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


BOXING INSIGHT: DONAIRE vs BEDAK


PhilBoxing.com




The luncheon at the Waterfront Hotel with Nonito Donaire Jr. and his team was delayed and ended at around 3pm, and the rest of our evening was spent with his Hungarian opponent Zsolt Bedak at the Parklane, where the brief transition of events made me realize the difference between the two prizefighters was almost as clear as night and day.

It was an informal get-together, but on our way to the buffet table, Bedak?s movements seemed to me quite calculated and businesslike, contrary to Donaire?s usual flare of flamboyance.

I asked him how he got the nickname Mr. Left Hook and he said his friends started calling him that after he had knocked out an opponent in Germany that astounded the audience and it stuck with him since. He did not mind this, but would rather be known as himself. There was almost no trace of a change in his demeanor in saying this, so I didn?t catch it as a sign of self-confidence or mere humility, only an admirable trait.

Standing opposite each other with an interpreter much taller than both of us I wondered how Bedak would cope with Donaire?s advantage over him in height and speed. I raised my arms with my hands just around chin level and nearly tapped his ribcage with my clenched left hand, and while motioning, inquired if he was going for an in-fight or be an out-boxer when the day comes, yet he shrugged these factors off as immaterial in degree. He plans to fight the Filipino both ways alternately.

Zsolt Bedak appears to be a well-balanced fighter being an amateur standout, having won medals in European championships. As an Olympian in Athens in 2004 he beat former world champion Abner Mares.


Flambouyant Donaire teaches kids the basics of boxing during his workout at the Robinson's Galeria.


Reserved and business-like Bedak (C) talks to reporters at the Parklane Hotel.

I?ve heard how many regard Zsolt Bedak as an easy opponent for Nonito Donaire. And if you?ve watched the latter?s performance against Juarez there should be no doubt of his renewed commitment to the sport after having fought it out with an unrelenting foe as he did with an injured ankle. When he first came in for the luncheon it was apparent that his reputation preceded him. He looked stronger as he?d ever been and talked about the future, even mentioned Lomachenko along the way with the savviness of a fighter who had been to the top of the rankings and knows in his own way that he still belongs there. But with the little we know about Zsolt Bedak? the less we know, the more he must be regarded as a threat. That generally did not seem the case.

Bedak fights with both arms up, with a decent defense and offense. Having a broad amateur experience he should be sound with the basics, therefore, should never be mistaken as a basic fighter. It is possible that Nonito Donaire would focus on attacking his body early on to soften up his defensive style, but it does not seem that easy to perpetrate with Bedak?s footwork. He might jab him frequently so he expects it, then he could feint this and use his lead hand for a hook, while being wary for a counter hook of his own. Donaire is the more versatile fighter of the two, but Bedak?s foundation as an amateur should serve him well too. The main concern at this time is that the weather in Cebu might drain him leading up to the fight so he shall have lost it way before the bell sounds.

If there is one thing that connects both fighters so they are not disparate, it is that they have both fought and lost to Guillermo Rigondeaux. When I asked Bedak about this, he answered me directly with his interpreter behind him, that the Cuban was his toughest bout in terms of style. He did not utter any complaint as most boxers do of his awkward fighting ways as he looked back at it objectively, exuding an impression that he had indeed lost against him in a convincing manner. He was resigned to his loss that now belonged to the past, while Nonito Donaire Jr. talked about the same thing looking forward with searching eyes, scouring for redemption. Their differences in outlook made me see clearly that night as if by day.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Mark F. Villanueva.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
    , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • 4 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights”
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN
    , Tue, 08 Jul 2025
  • UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA
    , Mon, 07 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.