Is Nonito Donaire the best fighter at 122?

09/14/201611/07/2012 ESB

Is Nonito Donaire the best fighter at 122? By Stanley Owens: It is quite likely that if you asked a casual boxing fan who they think is the best fighter at 122 they would answer with two words: Nonito Donaire. After all, Donaire is currently ranked at #5 pound for pound in the world by the Ring, not to mention his well-earned reputation as a devastating counterpuncher.

But is he really the best at 122?

His 2007 knockout victory over the notorious Australian slugger Vic Darchinyan catapaulted Donaire to stardom. But that victory occured at flyweight five years ago and while it was an impressive (and brutal) knockout, it doesnt answer any questions about his standing at 122.

Following the Darchinyan fight, Donaire became a household name in the lower weight divisions and continued to win impressively at super flyweight and bantamweight, culminating in a second round knockout victory over bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel in 2011.

Montiel had been a slight underdog leading up to the fight, yet no one could have predicted the sweet left hook that felled him in the second round and left a visible dent in his forehead. Donaire had reminded the world once again why he was ranked pound for pound.

continue

Nonito Donaire vs. Jorge Arce, December 15 th in Houston, Texas

09/15/201610/30/2012 ESB

By Joseph Herron– On Tuesday, October 30 th , Top Rank plans to announce their next big event for the remaining 2012 boxing calendar.

At the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, four division world champion and current WBO/Ring Super Bantamweight Champion Nonito Donaire will defend his titles against one of the Lone Star State’s favorite fighters, “El Travieso” Jorge Arce on December 15 th .

Although most fight fans and boxing scribes would prefer to see the Filipino fighter enter the ring pitted against current 122 pound WBA title holder Guillermo Rigondeaux, they should expect to see the two time Olympic Gold Medalist make an appearance on the fight card, if not in the co-main event of the evening.

But why would the boxing world be treated to Arce vs. Donaire before the critically acclaimed unification bout between Nonito and Rigo?

The relentless aggression of “El Travieso” paired with the athletic counter punching style of “The Filipino Flash” will more than likely be a very entertaining style match up and an overall more enticing event to the casual fight fan.

continue

Donaire vs. Arce a done deal for December 15th in Houston

09/15/201610/30/2012 ESB

By Rob Smith: A December 15th fight has been put together by Bob Arum of Top Rank for his fighter WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (30-1, 19 KO’s) to defend his title against Mexican veteran Jorge Arce (61-6-2, 46 KO’s) in Houston, Texas. There had been talk of the fight not going through due to Arce asking for more money than Top Rank was willing to offer him, but Arum has somehow put the fight together.

continue

Nonito Donaire-Jorge Arce Set To Rumble: Mexico City, Dec. 15th – This One Could Be Special!

09/14/201610/20/2012 ESB

By James Slater – For a while now, Nonito Donaire, one of the finest fighters operating today, and Jorge Arce, one of the toughest fighters operating today, have been looking at squaring off (even though the seen-it-all-done-it-all warrior that is Arce recently said he “is not impressed” by Donaire yet disappointingly opted to face a 36-12-1 Mauricio Martinez in his next bout).

Well, the intriguing clash, one that just might result in something special (depending on how much the somewhat grizzled 33-year-old five-weight ruler has left in the tank after his quite amazing 70-bout pro career) is set to go down in Mexico City on a Bob Arum promotion on Dec. 15th. This is the exclusive word according to Philboxing.com, who report that the fight will be made official this coming Monday.

Sure to be a big deal in Mexico, where millions of real, honest to goodness fight fans live, Donaire-Arce is a meeting of two totally different fighters and men. Donaire, both slick and deadly, can seemingly do it all in the ring yet he is both polite and respectful outside of the squared circle. Arce, meanwhile is a true throwback in the tough sense of the word, “Travieso” is also a proven trash-talker, totally unlike “The Filipino Flash” in terms of personality. The clash of styles and personalities will hopefully make for a memorable battle.

continue

Nonito Donaire: “I want Rigondeaux to be at his best when I fight him”

09/14/201610/18/2012 ESB

(Photo credit: Adrian Hernandez) By Joseph Herron: In less than a full calendar year’s time, four division world champion and pound for pound talent Nonito Donaire (30-1, 19 KOs) has garnered two world titles in the Super Bantamweight division, as well as the WBC Diamond belt and Ring Magazine’s distinction as the man to beat at 122 pounds.

So where does the “Filipino Flash” go from here?

After the 29 year old fighter’s brilliant performance against former WBC Champ Toshiaki Nishioka on October 13th, HBO’s Max Kellerman asked Donaire about a potential meeting with Cuban exile and two-time Olympic Gold medal winner Guillermo Rigondeaux.

While most fight fans were somewhat puzzled with Nonito’s on-air response, the southern California based fighter clarified his reply on Tuesday night’s edition of “The Pugilist KOrner”.

continue

Nonito Donaire…you have just entered the “Pacquiao Zone”

09/14/201610/17/2012 ESB

By Joseph Herron – Since bursting onto the big stage of boxing with one crushing left hook to the chin of the most feared Flyweight in the world circa 2007, Nonito Donaire has been one of the most dominant fighters in boxing. With lightning fast reflexes and freakish power for a lower weight division fighter, “The Filipino Flash” has made twenty nine consecutive victories look like an easy month at the office.

But like many dominant fighters of years past, Nonito Donaire currently finds himself in somewhat of a boxing quandary.

It seems the 29 year old fighter’s reputation has preceded his presence in the ring since placing a dent in the face of Fernando Montiel on HBO last year; not only to his opposition, but to the fans of boxing as well.

Since destroying the three division world champion on February 19th, 2011, most of Nonito’s opponents have receded into a timid and unwilling shell while standing in the ring with the pound for pound fighter. Although it’s an amazing testament to the talents of the proud Filipino pugilist, it doesn’t make for a very eventful evening of boxing.

After Donaire’s third championship victory in the Super Bantamweight division on Saturday, October 13th, his opponent admitted that his reluctance in the ring was intentional.

“The difference in the fight was the speed and I had to be careful,” stated Toshiaki Nishioka. “I had never faced a fighter with the speed of Donaire.”

continue

Donaire stops Nishioka in 9th round; Rios defeats Alvarado in 7th round TKO

09/14/201610/13/2012 ESB

By Rob Smith: In a really disappointing match, IBF/WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (30-1, 19 KO’s) easily defeated 36-year-old WAY best his best Toshiaki Nishioka (39-5-3, 24 KO’s) by a 9th round TKO on Saturday night at the Home Depot Center, in Carson, California, USA. Donaire knocked the reluctant Nishioka down twice in the fight, once in the 6th and finished him off with a right to the head in the 9th. Nishioka’s corner threw in the towel after the knockdown.

It was yet another one of Donaire’s disappointing fights because he had tried to sell the aging Nishioka as the best fighter in the super bantamweight division for weeks to boxing fans, saying he’s better than the top fighters. It was painfully obvious tonight that the fading Nishioka wasn’t what Donaire had said he was, and it’s just disappointing that Donaire won’t take on the best guys in the division like Abner Mares and Guillermo Rigondeaux instead of guys like Nishioka and Jeffrey Mathebula.

***

In a toe-to-toe war, former WBA lightweight champion Brandon Rios (31-0-1, 23 KO’s) defeated previously unbeaten Mike Alvarado (33-1, 23 KO’s) by a 7th round TKO on Saturday night to claim the vacant WBO Latino light welterweight title in their WBO light welterweight title eliminator bout.

continue

Nonito Donaire vs. Toshiaki Nishioka: Head to Head

09/14/201610/13/2012 ESB

By Joseph Herron – On Saturday night, October 13th, from the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, pound for pound fighter and current IBF/WBO Super Bantamweight Champion Nonito Donaire (29-1, 18 KOs) will attempt to diversify his already successful boxing portfolio as he takes on the WBC Champion Emeritus Toshiaki Nishioka (39-4-3, 24 KOs).

The Championship contest is part of a spectacular double header, which will be broadcast tonight on HBO Boxing After Dark, beginning at 10 PM EST/PST.

While many fight fans and boxing scribes are clamoring for a super fight between Nonito and current WBA Champion Guillermo Rigondeaux, tonight’s main event will pit the Ring recognized number one ranked 122 pound fighter against number three.

Because of his exposure on Showtime and HBO, it would be natural to assume that Donaire would be entering the ring as the number one ranked Super Bantamweight in the world.

But he’s not.

Toshiaka Nishioka is considered to be the number one fighter in the packed 122 pound weight division…and for good reason. The Tokyo, Japan based fighter hasn’t lost since entering the Super Bantamweight division back in 2004, defeating his opposition in convincing and impressive fashion.

continue

Nonito Donaire vs. Toshiaki Nishioka & Brandon Rios vs. Mike Alvarado: Weigh-in report

09/14/201610/13/2012 ESB

By Joseph Herron: Earlier today from the Marriott Manhattan Beach on the southern California coastline, all four marquee fighters participating in tomorrow night’s HBO Boxing After Dark double header, Donaire vs. Nishioka and Rios vs. Alvarado, stepped on the official California State Athletic Commission scale to gain their respective division eligibility.

If the crowd in attendance anticipated some heated moments throughout the media event, they were ultimately disappointed. All four combatants were professional and courteous to their respective foes during the entire Top Rank special presentation.

The big question going into the official weigh-in was whether or not Brandon Rios was finally going to make the division weight limit to become eligible to compete for the WBO Latino Junior Welterweight title tomorrow night.

Before his previous two bouts, “Bam Bam” twice failed to make the Lightweight division limit of 135 pounds and wasn’t permitted to compete for the WBA lightweight Championship, although ultimately being cleared to fight.

Before the event, trainer Robert Garcia insisted that Brandon would be able to make 140 pounds comfortably.

continue

Nonito Donaire vs. Toshiaki Nishioka: Will it be the return of the Filipino Flash?

10/13/201210/12/2012 ESB

By Peter Wells: Knockout after knockout after knockout. That was what it was like to be Nonito Donaire. Suddenly though a move to Super Bantamweight has halted Donaire’s fan pleasing knockout style and suddenly his fights are dragging out into one-sided 12 rounders.

On Saturday night maybe that spark he once possessed will return when he faces his toughest test at Super Bantamweight and may well be his toughest fight of his career. Toshiaki Nishioka may be 36 but is unbeaten since 2004 and has never lost at Super Bantamweight. After two early career defeats he has only lost twice, both defeats at the hands of the fantastic Thailand fighter, Veeraphol Sahaprom, both via unanimous decision. The Japanese fighter has also only ever been stopped once, and that was in his second professional fight back in 1995.

The former WBC champion, who had his title stripped after he couldn’t fight his mandatory challenger due to personal problems, has beaten many top quality fighters including; Jhonny Gonzalez, Ivan Hernandez, Rafael Marquez and Britain’s most famous binman, Rendall Munroe.

continue