By Michael Collins: Nonito Donaire (27-1, 18 KO’s) has shown zero interest in wanting to fight World Boxing Association (WBA) World super bantamweight champion Guillermo “The Jackal” Rigondeaux (9-0, 7 KO’s) before and even after Rigondeaux made easy work of WBA super bantamweight champion Rico Ramos in a 6th round TKO last Friday night.
Andre Ward, who knows Donaire well, said this to examiner.com writer Chris Robinson “If Donaire fights Rigondeaux, he’s going to bring it. He’s fast, he’s power, he does a lot of different stuff; it’s going to be a different night [compared to Ringondeaux’s easy win over Rico Ramos] if Rigondeaux fights Nonito.”
I think it would be a real shock or Donaire if he were to face Rigondeaux, because he would immediately take away Donaire’s left hook and the fight would come down to Donaire throwing punches and getting countered hard with lefts to the head and body. I can’t see Donaire lasting too long because Rigondeaux’s body punching will take him quickly. Donaire loads up with everything and Rigondeaux is at his best against guys that try to punch hard against him. I think this would be one of Rigondeaux’s easiest fights.
Already boxing fans are collectively viewing the 9-0 Rigondeaux as the best fighter in the super bantamweight division. However, Donaire instead of showing interest in fighting Rigongdeux, Donaire will be fighting Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. (21-1-1, 18 KO’s) for the vacant WBO super bantamweight title. Donaire won’t get much cache in beating Vazquez, 27, because he was recently knocked out by Jorge Arce last year in losing his WBO title by a 12th round knockout. Vazquez is just a fighter that is made to order for Donaire so that he can pick up a paper title and use that as something to add to his resume, but the win will be empty one because Vazquez Jr has no business fighting for a title after getting knocked out. Donaire would get respect from boxing fans if he were to fight and beat Rigondeaux.
However, that would be a very dangerous fight for Donaire, as Rigondeux, a two time Olympic gold medalist for Cuba and six time Cuban national champion, is a much more experienced fighter than Donaire. The 9 victories that Rigondeaux has chocked up as a pro is nothing when you look at his 400 amateur fights against the best fighters in the world, but Donaire is still not showing any interest in fighting him.
Don’t hold your breath waiting for Donaire to be matched against Rigondeaux. Donaire’s promoter Bob Arum wants him to become successful and he won’t want The Jackal cutting Donaire down before he gets to the big money fights for him. He’ll keep him away from Rigondeaux so that Donaire can keep winning.