By Chris Williams: It looks like former IBF/WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire has changed his mind about moving up to the featherweight division, at least for now. Donaire is talking about staying at 122 lb. to fight the newly crowned WBC super bantamweight champion Victor Terrazas (37-2-1, 21 KO’s) next, as soon as Donaire’s surgically operated on right shoulder heals up.
Donaire recently lost a 12 round unanimous decision to WBA super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux this month and didn’t look at all good in that fight. Donaire was dominated from start to finish and looked completely out of his class against the faster and better skilled Cuban fighter.
After the fight, Donaire mentioned that he had been fighting with torn ligaments in his right shoulder that he needed to have operated on. He didn’t waste any time after the fight, as he had his shoulder operated on a week later. According to ESPN, Donaire had torn his right shoulder in two places, one involving his rotator cuff and the other the labrum. Donaire also had a bone spur that had to be shaved off.
It’s going to take Donaire a lot of physical therapy for Donaire to come back from the injury, because any kind of injuries involving the rotator cuff is bad news. However, Donaire’s main punching power comes from his left hook, so he should be okay even if his right hand never gets back to full strength.
Terrazas is a beatable fighter for Donaire under any circumstances. Terrazas barely beat a past his best Cristian Mijares last Saturday night in a close 12 round split decision victory in Mexico. Terrazas was knocked down in the 12th round by the light hitting Mijares, and he might have been finished off had Mijrares not showboated after the knockdown and wasted precious time.
Donaire or his promoter at Top Rank might be having second thoughts about having him move up to the featherweight division. I can see why. Donaire’s best asset is his size over his opponents, and if he moves up to featherweight, he won’t have quite as much of an advantage than he does at 122. He’ll still be bigger than most of the guys he fights, but it won’t be as big of an advantage as it is with him fighting tiny super bantamweights.
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