WHEN these two warriors met back in 2007, few gave the then unknown Nonito Donaire Jr. a chance of upsetting the murderous punching Vic Darchinyan.
After all, Darchinyan was recognized as the apex predator of the lower weight classes, while Nonito had little else to offer except the back story of trying to get revenge over Darchinyan?s victory over his brother Glenn.
Six years later they meet up again, this time with a reversal of roles. Darchinyan is the underdog while Donaire is the heavy favorite. Here?s how they stack up.
NONITO DONAIRE (31-2, 20KOs). Strengths: One-punch knockout power in both hands. Speed. Ring intelligence and generalship.
Championship experience.
Weaknesses: Tendency to rely too much on power. Chin not yet tested.
Style: Donaire comes forward behind a jab but loves to counterpunch. He will lay traps in order to make opponents commit and counters them with deadly hooks and uppercuts.
Best Performances: Fernando Montiel TKO2; Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. W by SD; Toshiaki Nishioka TKO 9.
VIC DARCHINYAN (39-5, 28KOs)
Strengths: Power. Confidence. Stamina
Weakneses: Defensive lapses. His awkward stance leaves him open for counters.
Style: Darchinyan comes forward behind a crablike stance with his right arm crossed and his left cocked ready to do damage.
Best performances: Jorge Arce WRTD 11; Irene Pacheco WTKO11; Luis Maldonado TKO8.
COMPARISON. After their first encounter, Donaire went on a 13-fight win streak, broken only in his last fight by Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux.
In the process he also annexed world titles in the super flyweight, bantamweight and super bantamweight divisions and became one of the top 5 pound for pound fighters in the sport.
Darchinyan also moved up in weight and won titles in the super flyweight and bantamweight divisions. However, along the way he met defeat at the hands of Joseph Agbeko (by UD), Abner Mares (by SD), Anselmo Moreno (by UD) and Shinsuke Yamanaka (by UD) COMMON FOES. A reliable metric in gauging performances are common opponents faced by both protagonists.
Against Jorge Arce, Darchinyan scored a TKO in 11 rounds as the fight had to be stopped due to the numerous cuts suffered by Arce.
Donaire did better as he knocked down Arce once in round two , twice in round three en route to a KO win.
Darchinyan defeated Luis Maldonado in eight rounds, while Doniare did the same in 2007.
MY TAKE. I believe this fight wouldn?t be taking place had Donaire not lost to Rigondeaux. Darchinyan needs this fight more than Donaire. Of all the setbacks in his career, none grates more than the loss to Donaire and that?s why Darchinyan labeled him his ?creation.?
But that is entirely inaccurate. Donaire made a name for himself by following up that seminal win with victories over top tier opponents like Fernando Montiel,Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. and Hernan Marquez.
Darchinyan as a comeback opponent after the Rigondeauxloss seems to be a very wise choice. Against a very elusive fighter like Rigo, Donaire was made to look bad as he couldn?t land enough substantial leather.
Darchinyan comes straight at you and will be perfect fodder for the brilliant counter-punching of Donaire. But the latter has to be careful as even at 37 years of age, Darchinyan?s isn?t exactly a spent force. He still retains the power that stopped 28 of 39 opponents.
That being said, as long as Donaire sets up his combinations and doesn?t run into a lucky punch, I don?t see how ?The Filipino Flash? can lose this fight.
After their first encounter, Donaire has actually improved tremendously and is exponentially better than the version that scored 2007?s knockout of the year.
Darchinyan?s absolute self-belief seems undiminished, but that will not be enough. I see Donaire winning via knockout on or before the seventh round.
LAST ROUND. It?s on my kumpare, Atty Erwin Rommel ?Heyboy? Heyrosa, incumbent president of IBP Cebu who celebrated his birthday yesterday.
Cheers!
