It?s rare that a fight card loses its main event and gets better, but this Saturday may be one of those cases. There are those who enjoy the adventures of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and the B-side gravy train.
There are those who do not.
Individuals in the latter category will agree with those in the former that seeing some of the best in the world, in any weight class, is always a good thing. Three out of four in Saturday?s two best bouts qualify. The fourth has a second chance to earn his place.
The stakes are high at Bantamweight and Lightweight in a show that could have used a bit more audience than pay-per-view will allow. They participants will have to make the most of what they get.
Let?s go the report cards.
The Ledgers
Nonito Donaire Age: 28 Title: None Previous Titles: IBF Flyweight (2007-09, 3 Defenses) Height: 5?6 Weight: 118 lbs. Average Weight ? Last Five Fights: 113.6 lbs. Hails from: San Leandro, California (Born in the Philippines) Record: 24-1, 16 KO BoxingScene Rank: #1 at Jr. Bantamweight Record in Major Title Fights: 4-0, 4 KO (6-0, 5 KO including interim title fights) Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Defeated: 2 (Vic Darchinyan, Moruti Mthalane)
Vs.
Wladimir Sidorenko Age: 34 Title: None Previous Titles: WBA Bantamweight (2005-08, 6 Defenses Height: 5?4 Weight: 117.6 lbs. Average Weight ? Last Five Fights: 116.9 lbs. Hails from: Kiev, Ukraine Record: 22-2-2, 7 KO BoxingScene Rank: #10 at Bantamweight Record in Major Title Fights: 5-2-2, 1 KO Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Defeated: 3 (Joseph Agbeko, Leo Gamez, Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym) Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced in Defeat/Draw: 2 (Ricardo Cordoba, Anselmo Moreno)
Grades Pre-Fight: Speed ? Donaire A; Sidorenko B+ Pre-Fight: Power ? Donaire B+; Sidorenko C- Pre-Fight: Defense ? Donaire B; Sidorenko B+ Pre-Fight: Intangibles ? Donaire B+; Sidorenko B+
Humberto Soto Age: 30 Titles: WBC Lightweight (2010-Present, 2 Defenses Previous Titles: WBC Jr. Lightweight (2008-09, 3 Defenses) Height: 5?7 1/2 Weight: 134.8 lbs. Average Weight ? Last Five Fights: 134.3 lbs. Hails from: Tijuana, Mexico Record: 53-7-2, 32 KO BoxingScene Rank: #6 at Lightweight Record in Major Title Fights: 7-1, 3 KO (10-2, 5 KO including interim title fights) Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Defeated: 2 (Jesus Chavez, David Diaz) Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced in Defeat/No Contest: 3 (Kevin Kelley, Jorge Solis, Joan Guzman)
Vs.
Urbano Antillon Age: 28 Current Title/Previous Titles: None Height: 5?7 Weight: 135 lbs. Average Weight ? Last Five Fights: 135.3 lbs. Hails from: Maywood, California (Born in Mexico) Record: 28-1, 20 KO BoxingScene Rank: Unrated Record in Major Title Fights: 1st Title Fight (0-1, 1 KOBY including interim title fights) Current/Former World Champions/Titlists Faced in Defeat: 1 (Miguel Acosta)
Grades Pre-Fight: Speed ? Soto B; Antillon B- Pre-Fight: Power ? Soto B; Antillon B Pre-Fight: Defense ? Soto C+; Antillon C- Pre-Fight: Intangibles ? Soto B; Antillon B
The Picks
Breaking down the larger men first, Soto?s obvious advantage in experience jumps right off the page. He hasn?t always won, but he?s seen a wide assortment of the world?s best from Featherweight to his current place at 135 lbs. Antillon has seen some solid veterans, but less of the top level and what he did see, against Acosta, ended up a long night.
There is also a skills gap visible between the two. Neither is great defensively but Soto keep his guard a little tighter and gets off just a hair quicker. Antillon is a sucker for a stiff jab throws his shots wider than Soto. Antillon has been at Lightweight longer but that won?t add up to a size difference worth considering in the ring.
Soto is unlikely to climb much higher than the middle of the elite Lightweight pack, but Antillon doesn?t appear ready for even the middle. In a crowd pleaser, a class gap should make the difference for Soto in a late stoppage or decision.
The main event could set the stage for a huge showdown early next year between Donaire and unified titlist Fernando Montiel. Sidorenko will have something to say about it. He is, easily, the best fighter Donaire has faced since defeating Darchinyan in 2007.
Given Sidorenko?s proven quality at 118 lbs., against a former Flyweight titlist, he might be the just plain best fighter Donaire has faced. And yet, despite the longer tenure in the higher weight class, Sidorenko is likely to be the smaller man in the ring Saturday. Donaire has been squeezing a lot off a big frame (for the lower classes) and will have the edge in height and reach over Sidorenko.
He also has valuable edges in speed and power. Given all those pluses, where does Sidorenko hope to add up for a victory? The Ukrainian will have to rely on the vast wealth of experience he?s garnered against elite amateurs and professionals for more than a decade. If, at 34, he can still go full tilt, he can hope to frustrate Donaire with timed jabs, short hooks to the body, and an educated, pesky straight right hand.
Sidorenko is not going to knock Donaire out. He can knock him off rhythm and pile up points. Will he get credit for it if he does? Donaire will have the hometown edge and, if Sidorenko is in the fight, it?s going to be because of a lot of close, muddled rounds.
Those rounds will probably favor Donaire more often than not.
Look for Donaire to win a decision that leaves lots of room for debate when the final bell has sounded.
Report Card Picks 2010: 35-14
Cliff Rold is a member of the Ring Magazine Ratings Advisory Panel and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at [email protected]
