By Ian S Palmer
Two of the world’s super bantamweight (jr. featherweight) titles will be unified this Saturday April 13 when Nonito Donaire, the Filipino Flash will take on Cuba’s Guillermo Rigondeaux. The 30-year-old Donaire is the WBO titleholder while the 32-year-old Rigondeaux holds the WBA version of the championship. The bout will take place at New York City’s famous Radio City Music Hall.
Donaire has lost just once during his career as he’s compiled 31-1 record along with 20 Kos. He turned pro a dozen years ago and has taken on some of the best boxers in the world in several weight divisions. Rigondeaux is unbeaten so far in his pro career with a record of 11-0 with 8 Kos. He won a gold medal for his homeland at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. However, he defected from Cuba and turned professional four years ago.
Donaire is generally regarded as one of the planet’s best pound-for-pound boxers while Rigondeaux is considered to be a superb technician and master defensive fighter. Donaire is miles ahead when it comes to the experience department as this will be his 13th world title bout. But while Rigondeaux hasn’t even reached a dozen pro fights yet, his amateur experience can’t be discounted as he went 400-12 in his career and won seven national championships in Cuba..
Last year was one of Donaire’s best as a pro and he was rewarded for it by being honored with the fighter of the year award. He knocked out former world champions Jorge Arce of Mexico and Toshiaki Nishioka of Japan and won decisions against Jeffrey Mathebula and Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. Rigondeaux captured his version of the title in January of last year in his ninth pro bout by knocking out Rico Ramos in the sixth round. He’s defended it twice with a KO over Teon Kennedy and a decision over Robert Marroquin.
Both are excellent boxers, but Donaire has slightly faster hands. He’s also got a two-inch reach and a one-inch height advantage. Rigondeaux is the better defensive boxer, but Donaire gets the edge in power and explosiveness. They also both possess excellent chins, but they don’t always throw as many punches as they should. Rigondeaux especially is often quite conservative in his punch output and prefers to land counter shots.
Rigondeaux hasn’t fought anybody as good as Donaire yet, but Donaire is used to facing the best around. He will need to get used to his opponent’s style though since Rigondeaux is a southpaw. Donaire will need to throw more punches than he usually does or he could play into the Cuban’s hands here. Rigondeaux might be happy to lull him to sleep much the way Bernard Hopkins does with his opponents.
If Donaire doesn’t let his hands go he’s going t have to make sure that everything he throws is accurate and has some power on it. At the same time he needs to be careful of Rigondeaux’s left hand as he counters with it beautifully. Donaire may also find it hard to hit Rigondeaux as he’s quite slippery in the ring, much like former great Wilfredo Benitez.
Since neither fighter is used to throwing punches in volume this could be something of a chess match. Whoever throws the most and presses the action will likely take the rounds on the scorecard. However, it’s possible that Rigondeaux could take some of the rounds with his excellent counter punching skills. This is an excellent test for both boxers and it’s hard to imagine a knockout. Look for Donaire to take a controversial decision here.
