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Last week saw the announcement of a much anticipated match up at Super Bantamweight between unbeaten Cuban WBA boss Guillermo Rigondeaux agnd WBO Super-Bantam king and four weight world champion Nonito Donaire.
The match up, which pits the two best Super-Bantamweight fighters in the world after former WBC king Abner Mares decided he would step up to Featherweight, will take place at Radio City Music Hall in New York on the 13th April, generating considerable interest as it is great match up between two contrasting fighters.
The 32 year old Rigondeaux, who has had just 11 professional bouts, is widely regarded by many boxing figures as not only one of the greatest amateur fighters of all time, but he clinched the WBA title in just his 9th contest by defeating Rico Ramos.
But in the other corner we have one of the paid ranks greatest talents active today, Nonito Donaire, who, since turning professional, has displayed an exceptionally high level of ring intelligence in terms of judging the distance between himself and his opponent and pacing the fight.
This has left Donaire open to criticism of not being fan friendly but he is a powerful and fast puncher with a tendency not to waste his shots, which has seen him score powerful body shot knockouts.
Against challenger Teon Kennedy, Rigondeaux scored five knockdowns with his left cross to dominate in the maiden defence of his title. It was a resounding stamp of authority for Rigondeaux, who’s amateur pedigree stretches to over 400 bouts, winning seven national titles and two Olympic Gold medals.
For Donaire, the gold has come in the belts he has won in the paid ranks in the four weights he has won world titles, from Flyweight to Super-Bantamweight and has taken on some of the greatest little men in the sport of his generation.
Among Donaire’s victims are Jorge Arce, who was demolished in just three rounds, scoring three knockdowns before delivering the final knockout blow with just a second remaining of the third round in his most recent contest.
Previously, Donaire dismantled long reigning WBC king Toshiaki Nishioka, stopped Vic Darchinyan, and mounted a brutal two round blowout of Mexican icon Fernando Montiel amongst others.
While Donaire has the physical advantages of size and height along with terrific footwork and hand speed, he does not possess the exceptionally high level of ring intelligence and accuracy of punches that Rigondeaux is blessed with.
But Donaire must be credited with his willingness to continue to fight the best small men of his generation and will likely continue to cement his status of one of the best pound for pound boxers and action fighters in the world.
However, in the man they call “El Chacal”, Donaire may have gone a bridge too far in this match up with Rigondeaux.
