By Jeff Sorby: WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire’s trainer Robert Garcia doesn’t see WBA super bantamweight champion Rigondeaux as doing any better than Fernando Montiel did against Donaire. Donaire destroyed Montiel in two rounds a couple a years ago in a fight that many boxing fans thought it would be a competitive match-up going into the fight.
Guillermo Rigondeaux
Donaire vs. Rigondeaux: This is a risky fight for Nonito
By Rob Smith: Bob Arum has finally decided to put his fighter WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (31-1, 20 KO’s) in with someone that actually still has talent and is capable of beating him in WBA World super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KO’s) on April 13th at the Radio City Music Hall, in New York, New York, USA.
It’s sad that it’s take all these years for Arum to finally match Donaire tough, but it’s better late than never. Rigondeaux has the speed, power, counter punching ability the defensive skills to pull off an upset in this fight. I don’t even know if you could call it an upset because Rigondeaux is unbeaten, and he’s looked scary good since turning pro in 2009 after capturing two gold medals for Cuba in the Olympics.
Donaire vs. Rigondeaux: Nonito in risky fight on 4/13
By Jeff Sorby: WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (31-1, 20 KO’s) is finally facing a quality fighter in WBA World super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KO’s) on April 13th in New York. Rigondeaux is expected to sign shortly, and the fight will then likely take place in New York at Madison Square Garden.
The southpaw Rigondeaux potentially has the talent to give Donaire a lot of problems due to his power, speed, counter punching ability and defensive skills. Donaire defeated Jorge Arce, Toshiaki Nishioka, Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. and Jeffrey Mathebula in 2012. Some boxing experts thought Arce and Nishioka were going to be tough tests for Donaire, but they ended up being badly over-matched in losing by knockouts.
Rigondeaux expected to sign for Donaire fight
By Rob Smith: WBA World super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KO’s) is reportedly expected to sign for a fight against fellow Top Rank fighter WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (31-1, 20 KO’s) for a fight that will take place on April 13th at Madison Square Garden, in New York.
Rigondeaux will be Donaire’s first real test of his career because his opponents have been lacking in a big way. Rigondeaux can actually fight and has an excellent chance of beating Donaire with his fast hands, powerful body punching, and excellent defense. Rigondeaux has the skills to nullify Donaire’s left hook, and without that weapon, Donaire is a pretty average fighter.
Donaire to fight on April 13th
By Rob Smith: WBC super bantamweight champion Abner Mares (25-0-1, 13 KO’s) is one of three possible opponent for WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire’s next fight on April 13th, according to Philboxing.com. The other two are WBA super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux and former two division world champion Vic Darchinyan.
Arum looking to make Donaire-Rigondeaux on April 27th; Mares doesn’t accept offer
By Rob Smith: Top Rank promoter Bob Arum says he made an offer to Golden Boy Promotions for a fight between his fighter WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (31-1, 20 KO’s) and their fighter WBC super bantamweight champion Abner Mares, but Golden Boy didn’t agree to the offer, according to RingTV.
Arum is now looking to match Donaire against his other top super bantamweight WBA champ Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KO’s) on April 27th at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
This could end up a much tougher fight for the 30-year-old Donaire by virtue of Rigondeaux’s superior speed, counter punching, power and defensive boxing skills. Rigondeaux doesn’t leave himself open nearly as much as Mares typically does thanks to his much more cautious style of fighting. Mares would have been a perfect opponent for Donaire with his aggressive brawling style of fighting. That match-up would have given Donaire a lot of chances to land his big left hook shots.
Donaire-Rigondeaux possible for April 27th in Las Vegas, Nevada
By Rob Smith: Bob Arum says a fight between WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (31-1, 20 KO’s) and WBA champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KO’s) is possible for April 27th at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. Arum says he’ll try to make the fight that Donaire wants against WBC super bantamweight champion Abner Mares, but if that fight can take place then it’s going to be Donaire-Rigondeaux in April.
Speaking with RingTV, Arum said “We will see [Donaire fight] again hopefully in April. I we can free up Mares, that would be a good fight. If we can’t, then probably Rigondeaux.”
Arum obviously wants the Rigondeaux-Donaire fight because he would be helping out both of his fighters by making this fight. He promotes Rigondeaux as well, and the Cuban fighter badly wants to fight Donaire. A win for Rigondeaux over Donaire would dramatically increase his popularity among U.S boxing fans, although not to the same level as Donaire of course. Donaire has a huge built in Filipino fan base that follow his fights avidly.
Donaire to move up in weight if he doesn’t get Rigondeaux or Mares in March or April
By Rob Smith: WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (31-1, 20 KO’s) will be fighting in March or April, 2013, and he wants to unify the 122 pound titles in fights against WBA World super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux or Abner Mares.
The Mares fight is something that will have to wait for a little while longer, however, because Donaire’s promoter Bob Arum is reportedly interested in matching Donaire with Rigondeaux in an in house Top Rank fight.
It makes a lot of sense for Arum to do this because it’s not a difficult fight to put together like it would be if he tried matching Donaire with the Golden Boy promoted Abner Mares, and Rigondeaux has been asking for the Donaire fight for a long time. At least this way Arum will give Rigondeaux what he wants while at the same time giving boxing fans a good fight.
Donaire said to Philstar.com “That’s [Donaire-Rigondeaux] the fight I want to happen, but I know not to wait for anyone. If they can’t make the fight happen, then I’ll move up in weight [to featherweight].”
Donaire has been saying recently that it could be difficult to set up a fight with Rigondeaux because of what the Cuban fighter might ask for in terms of money for the fight. It doesn’t look like Donaire is going to be patient with Rigondeaux like he was with the much more popular – and far less dangerous – Jorge Arce.
Rigondeaux to fight Donaire in June 2013
By Steve Mabbott, photo by Tom Casino — It looks like WBA World super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KO’s) will finally be getting his shot at WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire in the summer. Rigondeaux’s manager Gary Hyde is saying that Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has promised him that he’ll set up a fight between Donaire and Rigondeaux for June.
Rigondeaux, 32, has to first win his next fight on February 23rd, and then he’ll be free to face Donaire in the summer.
Hyde said to El Nuevo Herald “Rigos next fight is scheduled for February 23rd against an opponent still to be named. Promoter Bob Arum promised me Rigo-Donaire fight will be in June 2013.”
This is good news because Rigondeaux has been waiting to get a shot at Donaire for a year now, and it looks like he’ll finally be getting his big chance.
Donaire targeting Rigondeaux and Mares for his next fight in 2013
By Rob Smith: Boxing fans will be happy to know that WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (30-1, 19 KO’s) is finally stepping it up for his next fight and facing someone still relevant in WBC super bantamweight champion Abner Mares and WBA super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux. Donaire said he wants to fight one of those guys next.