Donaire named Fighter of year for 2012 by BWAA

By Boxing News - 01/27/2013 - Comments

donaire3453By Chris Williams: The Boxing Writers Association of America has named WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire the Fighter of the Year for 2012 for his wins over 36-year-old Toshiaki Nishioka, Jorge Arce, Jeffrey Mathebula and Wilfredo Vazquez Jr.

It seems that they were more impressed with the 31-year-old Donaire’s quantity of wins rather than the quality because there wasn’t much in the way of quality due to the two best fighters in the division – Guillermo Rigondeaux and Abner Mares – were missing from Donaire’s list for 2012.

When the BWAA gives out the award next year, it’s hoped that Donaire will have Rigondeux and Mares’ names on his resume so that boxing fans can get a little clearer picture of how good Donaire is since it’s really tough to judge his talent with him beating guys that Mares and Rigondeaux would likely beat just as easily.

The BWAA named the Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez 4 as the Fight of the Year for 2012. That was an easy choice because it was exciting fight while it lasted and it was pretty shocking to see Pacquiao getting knocked down repeatedly by Marquez.

There’s a chance that Donaire could fight Mares this year if Donaire’s promoter Bob Arum accepts a huge $3 million offer from Golden Boy Promotions for the fight. It’s hard to imagine Arum would say no to the fight because the $3 million is for Donaire and Arum to split up between them. That’s big money for Donaire, and obviously way higher than what he’s ever received before.

If Arum says no to the fight then it’s highly unlikely Donaire will ever get an offer that big again. He’s 31 now, and there are no other big fights at 122 for him. Even if Donaire moves up to featherweight and super featherweight, there’s really no big names in those divisions for him to get a big payday.

If Donaire is willing to take a huge risk, he can move up to lightweight right now and try and fight the likes of WBC lightweight champion Adrien Broner and WBO champion Ricky Burns. He might get a big payday against Broner, but by the time Donaire does move up to 135, Broner will be long gone, if Donaire ever makes it that far.



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