Simply put, there is no sugar-coating the implications of Nonito Donaire?s fight this weekend.
As the former titlist fights this weekend in the early morning in the U.S. on Top Ranks website (yes, only a stream for the former HBO fighter) his career trajectory either takes a turn for the upside or turn for the worst when he takes on Simpiwe Vetyeka for a portion of the featherweight title.
With a win, kudos will go to of course Donaire first and foremost as the fighter, but also to his promoter TR who smartly matched him against a little-known titlist in hopes that grabbing a trinket will assist in getting their client back onto a premium network and against a name opponent.
Donaire_firstWork_140526_001aWith a loss, however, Donaire?s stock will plummet just as fast as his name did off of pound-for-pound lists following his devastating UD loss to Guillermo Rigondeaux.
Following a Fighter of the Year grab in 2012, the Rigondeaux loss in 2013 was a massive upset and that was followed up with a criticized return bout against Vic Darchinyan later that year as Donaire seemed listless and not in control until stopping Darchinyan in the 9th of a scheduled 10 round bout.
Darchinyan was ahead on two judge?s cards with the other dead even.
The fight from China will either be a career resurgence for Donaire or yet another huge setback for a fighter once thought to be one of the greatest in the game.
This weekend we will know the answer to the question: Is Donaire still? Donaire?
