Atlas and Golovkin pick Rigondeaux to beat Donaire tonight

By Boxing News - 04/13/2013 - Comments

rigondeaux23By Chris Williams: WBA middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin and ESPN analyst Teddy Atlas both see WBA World super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KO’s) defeating WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (31-1, 20 KO’s) tonight in their fight at the Radio City Music Hall in New York, New York.

Golovkin likes Rigondeaux’s pressure and aggressiveness and he thinks that’ll be the telling factor in the fight, whereas Atlas sees Rigondeaux’s counter punching and body punching as being the key to the fight.

Atlas thinks Donaire can win if he stays disciplined and uses his 3 inch height and reach advantage over Rigondeaux, but he doesn’t think he’s going to do that. Atlas believes that Donaire will want to engage and turn the fight into a war and that in turn will give Rigondeaux all the chances he needs to win the fight.

Golovkin said to thaboxingvoice.com “I think Rigondeaux [will win]. He’s like a predator. I respect Nonito. I think Rigondeaux has a good chance. I think Rigondeaux.”

Atlas said to ESPN: “I expect it to be a chess match, a strategic battle when it comes down to it. Never so true, styles make fights. Donaire has the style to give Rigondeaux fits. He has the reach, the physicality to stay on the outside and box. Rigondeaux, to me, might be the best counter puncher, pure counter puncher, in all of boxing, and he might be the best body puncher in all of boxing, but he needs you to engage him in order to show those skills. If he’s [Donaire] on the outside using that jab the way that Donaire is capable of doing, there’s nothing to counter, there’s nobody to attack, no water to put in the basement. So Donaire, it’s up to him. If he has the discipline; the self-control to stay out on the outside and fight the right fight then he wins the fight. But you know me; I don’t go the easy way. Everybody’s picking Donaire. I like Rigondeaux. He might be the best amateur I ever saw. I saw him in 2000 in Sydney; I saw him in 2004 in Athens; I called his fights. I never seen anyone so calm, so deliberate and so masterful in the areas where he’s so masterful, and on top of that he’s a southpaw. He’s a winner. He’s going to find a way [to win]. Donaire’s a fighter. Donaire will engage him and Rigondeaux will come out on top. Take it to the bank.”



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