By Chris Williams: IBF/WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (29-1, 18 KO’s) was quick to justify his pick of facing former WBC super bantamweight champion Toshiaki Nishioka (39-4-3, 24 KO’s) for his next fight on October 13th instead of the better known and arguably much more dangerous 122 pound champions Guillermo Rigondeaux and Abner Mares. Donaire said on his Facebook page “Going after the #1 in my division and no less.”

While that makes for a nice excuse for not fighting Rigondeaux or Mares, it still doesn’t wash with me. I know that Ring Magazine has the 36-year-old Nishioka as #1 and Riongondeaux #2, but I see Nishioka’s high ranking based on things that he did years ago rather than what he’s done lately. Nishioka’s best wins have come two to three years ago against Rendall Munroe and honny Gonzalez. He hasn’t done anything lately other than beating a way, way past his prime Rafael Marquez by a narrow decision last October. I had the fight scored a draw, and Nishioka looked old and slow. That’s what I hate about boxing. You get a fighter ranked high based on stuff he did in the past but who clearly isn’t the same fighter anymore.

I just see this as another way for Donaire to bypass Mares and Rigondeaux. Why did Donaire fight little known IBF champ Jeffrey Mathebula in his last fight rather than Mares or Rigondeaux, who both are more popular than Mathebula? Why fight Nishioka when the average boxing fan in the U.S has never heard of him?

If Donaire turns around and faces Mares or Rigondeaux after the Nishioka fight then I’m good. But I don’t see that happening unfortunately. I think Donaire is going to fight 33-year-old Jorge Arce after he beats Nishioka and then move up in weight to featherweight to go after one of the champions at that weight class, perhaps someone like Chris John or Billy Dib. I definitely don’t see Donaire facing Orlando Salido. No way on earth do I see that ever happening.