Two years ago at this time Nonito Donaire was the king of the 122-pound division, the division to which he?s presumably returning in 2015 after learning the hard way that he?s not meant to be a 126-pounder.
Aside from his featherweight travails, including his knockout loss in October to Nicholas Walters, he also lost his 122-pound supremacy with his April 2013 loss to Guillermo Rigondeaux.
Although Rigondeaux is still the WBA and WBO champion and is ranked among the world’s top 10 pound-for-pound, he?s not getting much action. He doesn?t have an American following, and he?s losing ground on the promotable front to WBC champion Leo Santa Cruz.
We?ll get another look at Santa Cruz?s action-packed style on Jan. 17, when he fights on a Showtime card headed by a notable heavyweight fight: Deontay Wilder against WBC champion Bermane Stiverne. It?s more of a showcase than a test for Santa Cruz (28-0-1, 16 knockouts), as he fights Jesus Ruiz (33-5-5, 22 knockouts. Junior welterweight Fidel Maldonado fights on that card against Amir Imam.
The point is, Santa Cruz-Donaire is not likely to happen. Santa Cruz is a Showtime/Al Haymon fighter. Donaire is an HBO/Top Rank fighter. It?s tough to make the twain meet, which is also why Donaire is not being lined up to fight Abner Mares, now a featherweight, though rather overtly beefed up. It?s also why the logical Rigondeaux-Santa Cruz match hasn?t been made.
Donaire mentioned Mares and Santa Cruz as desirable opponents in an interview with The Ring Magazine?s Lem Satterfield, and he also mentioned Vasyl Lomachenko, the WBO 126-pound champion, who might be a suitable opponent and is promoted by Top Rank. Donaire did say he?s open to remaining a featherweight — and that he?d like another crack at Walter.
Ouch.
All three of Donaire?s featherweight bouts have been painful, and he came fairly close to losing all three.
If Donaire is seriously going to continue his career, he needs to do so with as few disadvantages as possible. At 112 through 118 pound, he was too long and too strong for anyone to handle. At 126, he has neither edge and he’s 32 now. He needs to fight at 122, and he needs to fight Rigondeaux.
Top Rank?s Bob Arum has said he?s setting up a sure winner for Donaire, either in March in the Philippines or May in Macau. But Donaire should be avoiding tune-ups that make him a target for hungrier fighters. He needs to start getting mentioned among the top 122-pounders again as soon as possible.
Donaire was too small for Walters. But he?s not too small for Rigondeaux. And he?s not too big for him either. Donaire may have to fight that one for less money than he?s been getting.
Is it worth it to him? We should know soon.
