Coming up this Saturday night, at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City, boxing fans are in for a treat as we will see two spectacular fighters, with tremendous skill, face off in the Jr. Featherweight division. Nonito Donaire puts his WBO title on the line while Guillermo Rigondeaux puts his WBA title on the line in a unification bout scheduled for 12 rounds. This fight could quite possibly be the best matchup in the division, and most people expect fireworks. Below is the second installment of FightHype Faceoff in which we, the writers, will bring you, the fans, the breakdown and information you need to know for Saturday's action.
First up will be the breakdown of Greg Rowe, followed by the breakdown of Michael Samuels.
GREG ROWE
DEFENSE: Defense is the key component of this fight that will be more on display, as was the case with the rematch between Rios and Alvarado a few weeks ago. Now, anyone who has seen Rigondeaux fight knows he is a classic Cuban fighter in that he is very well schooled in all aspects of the fight game. He brings a slick and crafty counterpunching style mixed with the aggression of a pit bull. He was an Olympic Gold medalist and has plenty of world-class competition as an amateur. Rigondeaux has not had a long pro career at this point, so it is hard to judge exactly how good his defense really is, considering he has little big fight experience...and there is a big difference in fight experience and BIG fight experience. Donaire, on the other hand, has been fighting on the big stage on HBO for years and has almost wiped out the entire Jr. Featherweight division, with the exception of the man he will face Saturday and his verbal sparring partner Abner Mares, another top-level fighter. Donaire has shown the ability to slip and avoid punches with the best of them and take little punishment. Rigondeaux might look prettier as far as technique goes, but we must also remember who it is against, and at this point, because of big fight experience, I would give the slight edge to Donaire. But in all honesty, it could very well be an even swap. Rigondeaux has not been in there with a guy who possesses the package of a Nonito Donaire, so Saturday will be our first true look at what he can really do.
Advantage: Even
EXPERIENCE: This is the easiest of all fight categories to call. As I mentioned, Rigondeaux has a great amateur pedigree that consists of a Gold Medal, but let me break down the names on his resume – and stop me when you hear a name you know – Juan Noriega, Robert Guillen, Giovanni Andrade, Lante Addy, Adolfo Landeros, Jose Angel Beranza, Ricardo Cordoba, Willie Casey, Rico Ramos, Teon Kennedy, Robert Marroquin and...we're done. That's it – 11 fights. Donaire, on the other hand, has names like: Vic Darchinyan, Raul Martinez, Fernando Montiel, Wilfredo Vazquez Jr, Toshiaki Nishioka and Jorge Arce, to name a few, on his resume. As far as big fight experience goes, there is no contest – Donaire has it. Rigondeaux doesn't.
Advantage: Donaire
CHIN: Much like the defensive category, we have not seen Rigondeaux really tested by an excellent fighter that can punch with both hands. Rigondeuax is slick and crafty and that will always help a chin, because if you can't hit it, you can't hurt it. Trust me on this, Donaire will find it and we will soon find out if Rigondeaux is more like a Mayweather or more like an Amir Khan. Donaire, however, has been tested on the big stage and taken some good shots from some good punchers. Rigondeaux can punch, from what we have seen, especially with the straight left as either a lead shot or a counter shot, but I am not convinced he punches any harder than, say, Vic Darchinyan. Until we see it, we cannot fully evaluate the chin of Rigondeaux. Donaire, on the other hand, has, so far, passed with flying colors.
Advantage: Donaire
POWER: Rigondeaux has 8 knockouts in 11 professional fights, which is a pretty good ratio. However, we must take into account who he is knocking out, and with only one real name on his resume in Rico Ramos, it is hard to judge just how well he will not only be able to find and land on an elite fighter, but just how much damage those shots will do. Donaire has a proven record of knocking out normally iron-jawed opponents, such as Darchinyan and Arce, so to me, there isn't a real question as to who punches harder. Rigondeaux could change that Saturday night, but that is yet to be seen.
Advantage: Donaire
SPEED: Speed is something that I believe we will see a bunch of from both fighters, and unlike most assessable categories, speed is not something that comes with experience – either you have it or you don't. Donaire has pretty fast hands – some of the fastest in the division – but Rigondeaux might have the fastest. His shots come off looking like a sling shot – lightning quick. It is true that Donaire hasn't seen speed like he will see Saturday night, but the same could be said for Rigondeaux. Timing beats speed, and you get timing from experience, which Donaire has more of, but on simply just an eye test, the advantage in speed belongs to Rigondeaux.
Advantage: Rigondeaux
FINAL VERDICT: Stylistically, this is as good a matchup as you can have. Both guys are well-rounded and very well-schooled in every aspect of boxing. Occasionally, you get the crafty slick fighter with less experience than the veteran fighter that goes out and, against the world, fights the fight of his life and slays the giant whom most have picked to beat him. Ali-Spinks and Morales-Raheem immediately come to mind as examples of that scenario. However, I don't think Donaire has lost as much physically and mentally as Ali and Morales had at that point in their careers, and I don't see Donaire dropping the ball in this fight. I do believe this will be Donaire's toughest test to date due to the style and skill level of Rigondeaux. Then again, Donaire has shown the ability to adjust very well in fights, and he has the superior corner in this fight with 2012 Trainer of the Year Robert Garcia manning the ship. I do believe Donaire will catch Rigondeaux late with possibly a counter overhand right over the top of the straight left of Rigondeaux, or a short right uppercut, and put him down. I am in no way saying he will do it early or consistently, because I feel the first half of this fight will be even with each fighter trying to figure the other out and adjust his game plan to exploit the mistakes the other is making. I believe Donaire's experience and boxing brain will see him through against the much greener Rigondeaux, and I expect Donaire to do what he has to do to win the fight in what I believe will be a much more exciting fight than most think.
DONAIRE KO 8
MICHAEL SAMUELS
DEFENSE: Too many people question Rigondeaux's ability to take a punch and assume he has poor defense. That couldn't be further from the truth. This is boxing Â… you are going to get hit eventually. How you respond to a shot doesn't tell much about your defense, unless you are consistently getting lit up like a Christmas tree regardless of the opposition. That is not the case with Rigondeaux.
While I'm quick to praise Rigondeaux's defensive ability, that's not to say Nonito Donaire has the defense of Arturo Gatti. That also couldn't be further from the truth. Donaire is a very solid defensive fighter. I can give him an advantage in most things, but defense is not one of them, regardless of his ledger or experience as a professional.
Edge: Rigondeaux
EXPERIENCE: There's no debate here. Sure, Rigondeaux has a boatload of amateur experience. He was a monster for Cuba, which in part is why his pro debut a few years back was so highly anticipated. He has skills and he's showcased them to some degree. None of that matters when you put him in against the credentials of Nontio Doniare. Donaire has been doing it at a world-class level for a very long time, despite being slightly younger than Rigondeaux. Experience is one piece of the pie that Donaire swallows whole. Easy choice.
Edge: Donaire
CHIN: Neither Donaire or Rigondeaux have been knocked out during their careers. That is not to say neither man has been wobbled, hurt or knocked down. If we look at Donaire's resume, it's no secret he has been in the ring with some notable punchers, so it's no surprise he's had his chin tested and it's nothing short of extraordinary that he hasn't been hurt more when we look at exactly who he has faced. His chin is solid. There is no questioning the matter.
Rigondeaux has barely been touched as a professional. Whether he's smashing someone out early or he's doing everything to stink the joint up, the truth is he hasn't been hit that much. However, when he has been touched, he hasn't always taken the best shot. This could be a combination of many things: foot placement, not seeing the shot, ending up off balance after firing and missing a punch. With all that said, I'm not out to say Rigondeaux will fold like a wet paper bag once he's hit with someone who can really punch. With the power both fighters have, you can't dismiss their chins if one of them is knocked out this weekend. And believe me, there is a high probability this could happen.
Edge: Donaire.
POWER: This is a tough category to call if you simply look at the facts. Donaire is a heavy puncher and more importantly a PROVEN puncher. He is a cold-blooded puncher always looking for the kill. He single-handedly destroyed Vic Darchinyin, Fernando Montiel and Jorge Arce in brutal devastating fashion. We aren't talking systematic knockouts formulated from rounds and rounds of a game plan that eventually wears down an opponent. No. What we're talking about is devastating combinations – sometimes single shots – that knock the opposing fighter nearly unconscious upon contact. That is a rare power . That is a power that is not duplicated by just any fighter in the sport. It's a rare trait and Donaire possesses it, which makes him about as dangerous as they come.
Guillermo Rigondeaux has knocked out eight of his eleven opponents at the professional level. He hasn't always done it with the precision, accuracy and destructive fashion that Donaire has during his career, but that isn't as important as one may believe. Rigondeaux has power and plenty of it . He has the ability to knock a guy cold if he sets his mind to it. But therein lies the problem. Rigondeaux has a heavy amateur background, which is half the reason he's 32 years old with one third the amount of professional fights of Donaire. Rigondeaux is a master boxer first and I don't expect him to change into a single shot assassin in order to prove anything to Donaire or the critics who have been hard on him for his lack of opposition thus far in his career. Both guys can punch, but Donaire takes the edge here based on his mindset, the way he knocks guys out, and the quality of opposition he has faced.
Edge: Donaire.
SPEED: They don't call him the "Fiipino Flash" for nothin'. Everything about Nonito Donaire is fast. His foot movement. His ability to feint. The manner in which he gets his shots off. If you are hit with a solid shot, chances are you are hurt, and if it's one you don't see, well, just get the smelling salts out because you may be clinically dead. When you combine his freaky power with the speed in which he gets off, whether he's in the pocket or firing a laser from the outside, it's a pretty scary combination that has proven to be very difficult to deal with for opposing fighters.
Rigondeaux has been called mundane and boring and inactive during his short time at the professional ranks, but one thing nobody with half a brain will ever tell you – or admit to it, anyway – is Rigondeaux is slow. He has lightening fast hands and when he wants to, he can throw blazing combinations that are as fast, if not faster, than any fighter near or above the super bantamweight limit. If he delivered the devastating knockouts Donaire has, there would be nobody questioning his skill from a speed standpoint.
Edge: Rigondeaux
FINAL VERDICT: When you take everything into consideration, it seems relatively easy for the masses to choose Nontio Donaire to not only defeat Rigondeaux, but to destroy him with the first punch he lands. "Rigo" has been described as self "hype" – no pun intended – and just another Cuban afterthought. It's Donaire's job to prove this by smashing through him like a hot knife through butter and then subsequently moving on to bigger and better things. Donaire possesses a lot of things "Rigo" has never seen before, but sometimes in a fight, you have to throw all the facts out the window and go with your gut, and I honestly believe that Rigo is primed to upset Donaire. I feel that he has the skills, the ability, and the power to give Donaire fits. I also believe the timing for this fight is just right. I don't put too much stock into Rigo's short professional career based on where he comes from and what he's done outside of the professional ranks. He will surprise everyone on Saturday night, just as much as my final verdict may surprise the readers Greg and I collect on these columns. Watch and see.
RIGONDEAUX KO 3