By Albert Alvarez
Saturday, April 13, 2013 Radio City Music Hall, New York City. Live on HBO
Nonito Donaire(31-1) vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux(11-0)- To the naked eye, both fighters are viewed as being very similar counter punching, fast, power punching fighters. However, I do not see them as such. Nonito to me has more of an athletic flow to his power punch selection, and Rigo’s power is a little more natural.
This fight is either going to be a fast paced chess match, or a “you go then I’ll go” staring contest. Because of that, this fight is very tough to call. Both fighters to me are not fast, but quick. Quickness comes from the eyes and mind. The fighter that sees and reacts first from the actions being noted, will win this match.
Rigo without a doubt is the better body puncher, and he is great at setting up his foes starting with the ruler jab. He measures you with his jab and when he feels that he is close enough, he then strikes you like a cobra.
Donaire on the other hand, uses his legs to dart in and out of the space between himself and his prey. He will dart in and touch you enough times to make you move in the direction that he is intending you to go. Once he has you there, he will then rip out a lethal left hook.
Rigo in my eyes, is possibly the best amateur boxer that I have ever seen. He had a ton of amateur fights and when you have had as many amateur fights as Rigo has had, a lot of those amateur habits are very hard to shake off. In saying all that, it bothers me too much that Marroquin hurt Rigo with left hooks a couple times when they faced one another. And guess what, the left hook is Donaire’s money punch. The kid places everything he has behind that lightning bolt of a shot.
I’m going with Nonito Donaire to win this one by late stoppage. Both the WBO and WBA super bantamweight straps will be on the line.
