By Vitali Shaposhnikov: In a recent interview with Examiner.com (http://www.examiner.com/article/freddie-roach-calls-donaire-one-of-the-world-s-best-hoping-for-rigondeaux-fight), Freddie Roach talks about both Nonito Donaire and Guillermo Rigondeaux, and how he is impressed with both fighters for their own abilities and achievements.
“If you throw a lazy punch at him, he’s a great counter-puncher, he’s a solid guy. I think he’s one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world today,” said Roach when asked about his thoughts on Donaire.
It is fairly evident that Donaire is to be considered one of the most dangerous and dominating fighters at this time, and I think that most fighters, trainers, and boxing fans recognize this without much debate.
Donaire is solid enough that while there is credible competition out there, there isn’t all that much of it left. One of the fighters that Freddie Roach mentioned Donaire should undeniably fight next is Guillermo Rigondeaux:
“I’d like to see him fight the Cuban to be honest, Rigondeaux. Rigondeaux’s one of the best fighters I’ve ever trained technique-wise. He’s very skillful, he’s a great counterpuncher, and I think those two guys together would be a great fight. Working the mitts and stuff, when I’m trying to get shots in and show him his mistakes, seeing the openings and so forth, he’s the only fighter in the world that I’ve never hit once. I’ve never caught him. One time I was going to go to the body after a right hand and he stuck his elbow in there and bruised my arm for a month. I’ve never got to him in like six months of training,” declared Roach.
I have seen Rigondeaux fight, and I must admit, despite the fact that he does not have a well compiled resume, he was more than impressive. I have no problem believing what Roach said about Rigo, and am also one of the people hoping that Donaire will pick him sooner rather than later.
I cannot say that I would expect Rigo to win the fight, but I would not put that outcome on the sidelines. Donaire likes to sometimes play with his competition and experiment during the fight. With Rigo, this should not be an option, and Donaire would have to put in hard work from bell to bell.
Of course there are other options for Donaire, such as Abner Mares, and even his supposed confirmed foe Jorge Arce is not that bad of a choice. Still, for Donaire, there is but one fan approved option right now, Guillermo Rigondeaux.