By Chris Williams: Showtime boxing analyst Al Bernstein is high on WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (28-1, 18 KO’s) for some reason, seeing him as the best fighter in the entire lower weight classes.

Frankly, I don’t see what Bernstein is talking about because other than wins over Vic Darchinyan and Fernando Montiel, Donaire hasn’t looked very special to me, especially now that he’s moved up to super bantamweight.

Bernstein told Chris Williams at examiner.com “I think Nonito Donaire is the best lower weight fighter in the world. The only question will be, as he’s getting up in weight here, when he’s at 126 facing somebody like Yuriorkis Gamboa.”

Don’t look now, Bernstein, but your boy Donaire isn’t looking so hot at 122. It won’t take Gamboa to knock the glitter off of the Donaire hype machine. Put him in with Guillermo Rigondeaux and watch the excuses fly afterwards when Donaire gets knocked out. He’s got the same Top Rank promoter as recent excuse fighters Manny Pacquiao and Brandon Rios.

I can see Donaire coming up with some real whoppers to explain away a knockout loss to Ringondeaux, and if he doesn’t do it, I can bet his promoter Bob Arum will have some kind of sad tale to explain why Donaire got knocked cold. And as far as Donaire moving up to 126 to take on the likes of Gamboa, that isn’t going to happen anytime soon if ever. Donaire is talking about wanting to face Abner Mares, Jorge Arce, Toshiaki Nishioka and Rigondeaux before he moves up in weight. I’m sorry but I see Donaire losing to Mares, and definitely to Rigondeaux. I’m not sure about Nishioka. I’ve seen a few of his fights and he’s looked awful to me, but good enough to give Donaire a lot of problems.

Donaire could have fought Mares or Rigondeaux in his next fight on July 7th, but instead Donaire has decided to take yet another easy fight by taking on IBF title holder Jeffrey Mathebula at the Home Depot Center, in Carson, California, United States. Mathebula is a title holder, but I don’t consider him a world champion. This is just another soft fight for Donaire to keep him winning. Don’t hold your breath waiting for Donaire to fight Rigondeaux, because that fight will most likely never happen.