By Ian S Palmer
Unbeaten WBC Bantamweight Champion Nordine Oubaali of France takes on former world champ Nonito Donaire of the Philippines this Saturday May, 29 in carson, California. The 12-rounder can be seen live in America on Showtime and live in Canada on TSN 3. Oubaali last boxed in November, 2019 when he downed Takuma Inoue by unanimous decision while Donaire fought the same night and lost a unanimous decision to Inoue’s brother Naoya in a fight-of-the -year candidate for Inoue’s IBF Title and the World Series of Boxing Final. Donaire also lost his WBA Super belt in that fight after getting up from the canvas in the later rounds.
Oubaali won the vacant WBC Title in January, 2019 when he beat Rau’shee Warren by unanimous decision. He then defended it against Arthur Villanueva by sixth-round stoppage in July before meeting Inoue. Oubaali is a 34-year-old southpaw who boasts a perfect record of 17-0 along with 13 Kos. He’s obviously got some power in his hands with a current knockout ratio of 70.6 per cent and has gone the distance in just two of his last eight fights and that was against Warren and Inoue.
Oubaali also captured the vacant WBC Silver Bantamweight crown in June, 2017 via a 10th-round TKO over Alejandro Hernandez. He defended it against Mark Anthony Geraldo by seventh-round stoppage in December, 2017 and also has a seventh-round win over Iran Diaz in May, 2016. Oubaali stands just under 5-feet-4-inches tall with a 67-inch reach and has boxed just 94 rounds since making his pro debut in 2014.
He’s a former Olympian who represented France at the 2008 Games in Beijing, China and also at the 2012 event in London, England. He lost to Zou Shiming of China in 2008 and interestingly enough he edged Warren 19-18 on points in 2012 and was then beaten 22-18 by Michael Conlan of Ireland. However, he’s looked better since turning pro.
The 38-year-old Donaire bounced back with wins over Ryan Burnett in 2018 for the WBA belt and Stephon Young in 2019 in the World Boxing Super Series after dropping a unanimous decision to Carl Frampton in a shot at the vacant interim WBO Featherweight crown in April, 2018. He enters the ring with a record of 40-6 with 26 Kos. He’s a former amateur star who moved to America as a youngster and is 15-5 with 9 Kos in world title fights.
Donaire’s a former four-division World Champion in the flyweight, bantamweight, super bantamweight and featherweight divisions and has won numerous regional and minor titles since turning pro in 2001. He’s boxed 289 rounds since then with a current knockout ratio of 56.5 per cent. His biggest wins have been over Burnett, Vic Darchinyan (twice), Hernan Marquez, Fernando Montiel, Omar Narvaez, Wilfredo Vazquez Jr., Jeffrey Mathebula, Toshiaki Nishioka, and Jorge Arce.
His losses have been at the hands of Inoue, Frampton, Jessie Magdaleno in 2016, Guillermo Rigondeaux in 2013, Nicholas Walters in 2014 and Rosendo Sanchez in his second pro bout in 2001. The only man to stop him was Walters in the sixth round but Donaire’s proven over the years to have a solid chin. He’s 5-feet-7-inches tall with a 68.5-inch reach which gives him a 3.5-inch height advantage on Oubaali and 1.5-inches in reach.
Prediction…
Donaire still has good power and speed at his age and he’s experienced at picking off his opponents when they move into firing range with enough power do some damage. However, he is becoming easier to hit as he gets older. He has plenty of experience and skills and has been a credit to boxing but the future Hall of Famer is 38 years old. Donaire has rebounded well from his poor outing against Carl Frampton a few years ago and they say all great fighters have one more excellent performance in them, but he may have used it up against Inoue. Oubaali isn’t that well known and he’s underrated. He does everything well but doesn’t really excel at anything. Donaire may have had a lot taken out of him by Inoue and I have a feeling he will fall just short on Saturday.
