Getty Images
By Nick Bellafatto
Two time Cuban Olympic Gold Medalist and WBA titlist Guillermo “El Chacal” Rigondeaux (12-0, 8 KO’s) of Miami, Florida would as the superior ring technician dictate terms to unanimously decision pound-for-pound Las Vegas resident and WBO champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire (31-2. 20 KO’s). The final tallies before a packed house at the legendary Radio City Music Hall in New York City would read 116-111, 115-112 and 114-113.
In the process the still undefeated Rigondeaux would not only further unify the junior featherweight division in just his twelfth professional bout, but as well the Cuban prizefighter would etch his way up the rankings of boxing’s elite. A shoe-in to replace Donaire as the 122 pound Ring Magazine Champion, “El Chacal” in addition also figures to land himself on the pound-for-pound list ahead of the Filipino.
But flipping the script as regards an encounter in which many believed “The Filipino Flash” would emerge victorious, another conservative performance as is Rigondeaux’s forte would prompt repeated boo’s from well paying onlookers. Besides voicing their displeasure, those in attendance as well as viewers of the HBO telecast would feel shortchanged entertainment wise.
By way of Rigondeaux ever so slightly outlanding his Filipino counterpart in the majority of rounds while rarely looking to engage, he would fall well short of being exciting. This despite being involved in a chess match of the highest proportions where Guillermo had turned out to be the better player.
However, rightfully declared the victor, credit should be given where credit is due. “El Chacal” connected with the visibly solid counters that in comparison to Donaire, who although displaying his vaunted left hook in the tenth frame to score a knockdown, had rarely connected with anything meaningful if at all. As a result, Nonito wouldn’t make much of a case for the relatively close scoring, nor more importantly a case for a potential rematch.
Against the defensively impenetrable as well as sharper punching Rigondeaux, Donaire would be rendered ineffective on all fronts. For besides becoming uncharacteristically tentative, the now former WBO champion had moreover failed to put his punches together, a circumstance that would further limit his chances at a victory.
And if one were to judge on appearance alone, Nonito Donaire by fight’s end had looked the worse for wear, suffering a laceration in the final round from a left hand counter that would put an exclamation point on matters.
All told, Guillermo Rigondeaux who had made his way from Cuba leaving family members behind would remain as cool, calm, and collected as is his demeanor in seemingly all settings. “I told you I was going to do my job, and I did it,” stated a triumphant Rigondeaux. “The people that saw this fight, the people that know boxing saw that it was a very good fight, a quality fight. And I made him look bad while I looked great.
Boxing, moving, it was frustrating. You can’t just win a fight with one shot [referring to Donaire loading up]. I’ll fight against anyone that comes up.”
On the heels of such comments Donaire would voice his own opinion. “First of all I just wanted to apologize for not giving you [fight fans] what I wanted to deliver. I got too carried away, I wanted to take him out so bad. I fell in love with that. I have much respect for Rigondeaux, he played a beautiful boxing game. It was my mistake for not changing up. We got to go back to the drawing board and get better.”
Aside from expressing interest in a rematch with Rigondeaux, Nonito Donaire would also allude to the fact that he “struggled to make weight” and will consider moving up to featherweight or beyond. And while taking time off due to his wife’s pregnancy, Donaire in revealing an existing injury simultaneously plans to remedy that situation. “To be honest with you for the last three fights, I’m mean I’m not taking anything away from Rigondeaux, but I needed surgery on my shoulder. I tore some ligaments.”
With that let’s see what the future holds. But for now a changing of the guard is at hand with Guillermo “El Chacal” Rigondeaux to sit atop the junior featherweight throne while Nonito “The Filipino Flash” on the sidelines is to ponder his next move.
