Can Rigondeaux handle Donaire´s big left?

By Boxing News - 04/08/2013 - Comments

rigondeaux5By Gerardo Granados: A couple of years ago it was a certainty that Nonito Donaire was the clear underdog when he faced the tough Armenian Vic Darchinyan, but Nonito´s big left hand proved me wrong. Only two years ago when Donaire faced Fernando “Kochulito” Montiel I still believed he was the underdog but again Nonito´s big left finished the fight.

Nonito is no longer the underdog, he is an accurate puncher, has blazing speed and great power, he is fun to watch and has become a top ten pound for pound lion king. Meanwhile, Guillermo Rigondeaux has a vast and successful “amateur” career has ring smarts and a solid chin, good speed and defensive skills, but I believe he doesn´t stand a big chance to defeat Donaire so I will bet on Nonito to win by late KO. Don´t get me wrong Rigondeaux is not an easy prey and for sure Donaire cannot be over confident.

Both Jeffrey Mathebula and Wilfred Vazquez Jr. got floored by a hard left, Donaire has knocked out many others such as multiple division champions Vick Darchinyan, Jorge Arce, Fernando Montiel, Toshiaki Nishioka, and contenders Hernan Marquez, Manuel Vargas, Luis Maldonado and Raul Martinez, using his big left. It is true that Omar Narvaez was defensively successful against Nonito, he kept his guard tight and high but never took a risk and he end up losing a lopsided decision.

Rigondeaux will be able to avoid Nonito´s big left for a couple of rounds but once he gets hit with a clean hard left the fight could come to an abrupt ending, Rigondeaux has good defensive skills but he is not on Pep or Whitaker defensive skill level.

Does Rigondeaux have the tools to handle Donaire´s big left? We will have the answer next Saturday night and the reader better not miss a genuine championship bout between two prime skilled fighters. I have already placed my bet, what about you?



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