Who should Nonito Donaire face next?

[Rantcatrat]

Fans are calling for Rigondeaux, but Donaire doesn't seem to be interested in that fight. The winner of the Mares/Moreno fight would be a good one too, if the rival promoters would work together. I don't understand Arce because that fight wouldn't be competitive. However, there is money in an Arce fight, and since Mares/Moreno aren't fighting until mid-November, even if Donaire beat Arce in the meantime, they would still be relatively on track for a fight in the Spring.

[shza]

Fans are calling for Rigondeaux, but Donaire doesn't seem to be interested in that fight. The winner of the Mares/Moreno fight would be a good one too, if the rival promoters would work together. I don't understand Arce because that fight wouldn't be competitive. However, there is money in an Arce fight, and since Mares/Moreno aren't fighting until mid-November, even if Donaire beat Arce in the meantime, they would still be relatively on track for a fight in the Spring.

Gamboa comeback fight at 126 please!

[:::PSL:::]

I hope he fights Rigondeaux next.

[Ant Live]

Gary Russell Jr

[Mars_ax]

Fans are calling for Rigondeaux, but Donaire doesn't seem to be interested in that fight. The winner of the Mares/Moreno fight would be a good one too, if the rival promoters would work together. I don't understand Arce because that fight wouldn't be competitive. However, there is money in an Arce fight, and since Mares/Moreno aren't fighting until mid-November, even if Donaire beat Arce in the meantime, they would still be relatively on track for a fight in the Spring.

@Rantcatrat,

I'd love to see Donaire fight Rigon, I don't know why he doesn't seem interested, this is a fight most of us hardcore fans would love to see. As for Donaire vs. Arce, "flash" would destroy Arce, it wouldn't even be competitive.

[Hulk]

Fans are calling for Rigondeaux, but Donaire doesn't seem to be interested in that fight. The winner of the Mares/Moreno fight would be a good one too, if the rival promoters would work together. I don't understand Arce because that fight wouldn't be competitive. However, there is money in an Arce fight, and since Mares/Moreno aren't fighting until mid-November, even if Donaire beat Arce in the meantime, they would still be relatively on track for a fight in the Spring.

@Rantcatrat ,

I'd love to see Donaire fight Rigon, I don't know why he doesn't seem interested, this is a fight most of us hardcore fans would love to see. As for Donaire vs. Arce, "flash" would destroy Arce, it wouldn't even be competitive.

It would be a total mismatch if he fought lil Arce. Rigondeux is the ticket or the winner of Moreno vs. Mares.

I agree with Shza about Gamboa, but Gamboa needs a tune up first after such a huge lay off.

[IamInuit]

Fans are calling for Rigondeaux, but Donaire doesn't seem to be interested in that fight. The winner of the Mares/Moreno fight would be a good one too, if the rival promoters would work together. I don't understand Arce because that fight wouldn't be competitive. However, there is money in an Arce fight, and since Mares/Moreno aren't fighting until mid-November, even if Donaire beat Arce in the meantime, they would still be relatively on track for a fight in the Spring.

He will need someone prior to the winner of Mares/Moreno and even then neither are Arum fighters. It will probably be Arce and a lamb led to the slaughter. He might want to jump to 126.

[Gandalf]

James Tony at a CW of 215 pounds. I want to see him flattened as I don't like his prancing style. His fights are always boring.

[Rantcatrat]

James Tony at a CW of 215 pounds. I want to see him flattened as I don't like his prancing style. His fights are always boring.

This has been the criticism on the Donaire of late. Some blame his opponents for their reluctance to engage with him; others attribute it to the rise in weight. I agree with the former. However, to me, he's one of the best in the game and I generally enjoy his fights regardless, although perhaps not his fight against Narvaez. Then again, Narvaez is the only of Donaire's last opponents to not taste the canvas.

The feeling on Arce as an opponent is that Arce will actually engage and thus the fight will be more fan-friendly.

Also, let's not forget: Donaire should be commended for his stance against PED's. He undergoes year-round, Olympic-style testing.

[:::PSL:::]

Donaire is not a boring fighter. His past opponents are. He's always been the one who kept engaging and stalking. After his skull-caving left hook to Montiel, everything has changed for him. I've been seeing his last 4 opponents had their right hand glued on their faces. They all fought a scared fight against Nonito.

I don't think Rigo would last 6 rounds with him. Lol. If you got dropped by Cordoba with a jab, or a left hook from Marroquin (those guys aren't fast).. Rigo should think twice of fighting Donaire.

[Gandalf]

That's the trouble with these dwarves, it is hard to take them seriously. I don't really pay all that much attention to 130 and below. The people down there are freaks because most normal people are never that weight or size.

[TitoFan]

Someone with a "minimum of punches thrown" clause written into his contract.

[Gandalf]

Someone with a "minimum of punches thrown" clause written into his contract.

7 in the first round? I mean, fucking hell! If I spoke 7 words in 3 minutes, I know I would get reported and eventually lose my job. It has to be the same for boxers.

[:::PSL:::]

Donaire's Opponents Quickly Go From Fighting to Surviving - The Triangle Blog - Grantland



"Well, some of Donaire's opponents, most notably Vic Darchinyan, Volodymyr Sydorenko, and Fernando Montiel, have tried to fight aggressively against the Filipino Flash. Their attacks earned them a trio of knockouts that are worth re-watching. Darchinyan went down for the first time in his career and ended up with the same dazed look as the folks who spin around on baseball bats during timeouts at NBA games. Sydorenko, in fewer than four rounds, looked like he'd been ejected face-first through a car windshield. And Montiel performed a horrifying, unconscious spasm dance while lying flat on his back."

"So Donaire's most recent opponents have been more cautious. Way more cautious. The diminutive, rat-tailed Argentine Omar Narvaez survived 12 rounds with Donaire by backpedaling constantly and not throwing a single punch. That's not true, of course. Compubox and YouTube can confirm that Narvaez technically did move his fists at certain times during the fight. You'd have a hard time convincing me, however, that he ever did so in an earnest attempt to hurt Donaire. Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. and Jeffrey Mathebula both seemed concerned with little more than defending themselves and surviving 12 rounds against Donaire, something each fighter achieved, although both suffered knockdowns and Mathebula's jaw was broken in two places."

[Rantcatrat]

Donaire's Opponents Quickly Go From Fighting to Surviving - The Triangle Blog - Grantland



"Well, some of Donaire's opponents, most notably Vic Darchinyan, Volodymyr Sydorenko, and Fernando Montiel, have tried to fight aggressively against the Filipino Flash. Their attacks earned them a trio of knockouts that are worth re-watching. Darchinyan went down for the first time in his career and ended up with the same dazed look as the folks who spin around on baseball bats during timeouts at NBA games. Sydorenko, in fewer than four rounds, looked like he'd been ejected face-first through a car windshield. And Montiel performed a horrifying, unconscious spasm dance while lying flat on his back."

"So Donaire's most recent opponents have been more cautious. Way more cautious. The diminutive, rat-tailed Argentine Omar Narvaez survived 12 rounds with Donaire by backpedaling constantly and not throwing a single punch. That's not true, of course. Compubox and YouTube can confirm that Narvaez technically did move his fists at certain times during the fight. You'd have a hard time convincing me, however, that he ever did so in an earnest attempt to hurt Donaire. Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. and Jeffrey Mathebula both seemed concerned with little more than defending themselves and surviving 12 rounds against Donaire, something each fighter achieved, although both suffered knockdowns and Mathebula's jaw was broken in two places."

@PSL - I only partially agree with this. I also think that Donaire has become in love with his power and in the Vasquez Jr. and Mathebula fights, he refused to box, and was content to wing power shots. Don't forget that Mathebula won rounds against Donaire too.

I also believe that the Moreno/Mares winner and Rigondeaux are the only competitive fights for Donaire at 122. It's odd to me that Donaire has been so dismissive of facing Rigondeaux when it's clear that he is one of the two best options for him at 122. For my money, there were five top junior featherweights: Nishioka, Mares, Donaire, Rigondeaux and Moreno. There's no reason why Donaire should go up in weight to 126, and miss Rigondeaux, the one other guy of that group who has the same promoter, and thus, would be the easiest fight to make.

You know what I would love to see that will never happen? If Donaire is intent on moving up in weight, as opposed to facing Rigondeaux, Mares/Moreno, he should go to Indonesia and kick Chris John's ass.