You know it?s time for Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire Jr. to lace on the gloves and spring into action when his comrades in arms are falling like dead bees.
Last year, it was Donaire who gave Philippine boxing a huge lift following the catastrophic loss of Manny Pacquiao to Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez. Within a week after Pacquiao fell like a log against Marquez, Donaire resuscitated the sport with a devastating third round knockout of Mexican Jorge Arce. The victory capped a splendid year for Donaire, one that saw him earn Fighter of the Year honors from the prestigious Boxing Writers Association of America.
For his first ring appearance this year, Donaire is again set to save the day. Donaire?s showdown with Cuban Guillermo ?The Jackal? Rigondeaux for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and World Boxing Association (WBA) junior featherweight (122 pounds) titles is taking place at a time when Philippine boxing is sagging along the ropes and taking a beating. On March 2, Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes barely retained his WBO light flyweight (108 pounds) championship with a disputable majority draw against Mexican challenger Moises Fuentes. On April 6, Brian Viloria yielded his WBA and WBO flyweight crowns to underrated Mexican challenger Juan Francisco Estrada. While the heavy favorite, Viloria ran out of steam and handed the crowns to Estrada on a 12-round split-decision. Two days later, veteran Malcolm ?Eagle Eye? Tunacao was stopped by Japanese Shinsuke Yamanaka in a battle for the World Boxing Council bantamweight (118 pounds) hardware. Tunacao, a former WBC flyweight king, was on an 11-fight winning streak going in the fight, but he could not get his rhythm going as he kissed the canvas three times before capitulating in the 12th and final round.
With Pacquiao in hibernation and Viloria and Tunacao licking their wounds, it all comes down to Donaire again.
While Donaire bulldozed his way past Arce, he is expected to have a tougher time against Rigondeaux, a battle-tested fighter despite having only 11 fights (11-0, 8 knockouts) as a professional. Rigondeaux, 32, figured in nearly 400 fights as an amateur and won the gold medal in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics. A seven-time Cuban national champion at bantamweight, he left Cuba in 2009 and landed in the shores of Miami, Florida in search of a better life for his family. Rigondeaux started punching for pay in May 2009 and was crowned regular WBA junior featherweight king in January 2012 when he stopped Rico Ramos in six rounds.
Like Donaire, Rigondeaux is a cerebral fighter. Trainer Freddie Roach once called the Cuban ?the best counterpuncher I have ever seen.? Roach claimed that when Rigondeaux first arrived at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles, he immediately asked for a sparring session with Pacquiao. This speaks a lot about Rigondeaux?s confidence.
Donaire-Rigondeaux is a match that features two skilled ring tacticians. It will be like Michelangelo and Raphael comparing strokes. The fight figures to drag in the early rounds because both men are essentially counterpunchers, but it is expected to heat up owing to the animosity between the two. The joke is that there is so much bad blood between Donaire and Rigondeaux that Red Cross volunteers are not that receptive to the fight. Seriously though, Donaire is the smart money bet to prevail as Rigondeaux?s habit of dropping his right arm too low is likely to make him a sucker for the Filipino?s sizzling left hook.
