By Chris Williams: It’s hard to believe that just three years ago Nonito Donaire (33-3, 21 KOs) was named the 2012 Fighter of the Year for his wins over a mix of aging veterans and average contenders such as Toshiaki Nishioka, Jorge Arce, Jeffrey Mathebula and Wilfredo Vazquez Jr.
Things have changed a lot since then for Donaire, as he’s lost to Guillermo Rigondeaux, looked poor against Vic Darchinyan and then lost to Nicholas Walters. Donaire’s former trainer Jonathan Penalosa thinks that he’s still capable of winning a world title, but he doesn’t think he’s cut out for the featherweight division. He believes that Donaire needs to move down in weight.
Penalosa notices that Donaire has slowed down in terms of his hand and foot speed. That’s something that’s not going to be improved much in Donaire moving down to super bantamweight. He’s not going to regain a lot of speed with that move, and it might actually hurt him in the power and stamina department. At 32, Donaire’s ability to fight like he used to is probably over with. He’s going to need to make the best of it with what remains of his physical skills.
In Donaire’s last fight, he was stopped by WBA featherweight champion Nicholas Walters. It was a fight that probably shouldn’t have been made because it was clear before the bell even rung in the 1st round that Donaire didn’t have the game to beat a guy as powerful as Walters. Donaire was jabbed silly during the fight, and then chopped down with axe-like blows from Walters in the 6th.
“He got slow,” said Peñalosa via Gmanetwork.com. “Since his fight with Rigondeaux, all he wants is to trade, go for the kill. He used to have fast hands and feet. He had a better chance against Walters if he boxed, used his speed and footwork. He wasn’t supposed to trade with the stronger and bigger Walters.”
The reason why Donaire is trading shots with his opponents more now than he did in the past is because he doesn’t have the ability to move around the ring like he used to. The stamina and foot speed is gone, so Donaire is like a bird without his wings and unable to fly.
Donaire literally has to stand in his place and trade with his opponents, because if he tries to move for any length of time, he looks slow and sluggish on his feet. Donaire’s face then turns red from the exertion of moving around the ring, and he’s forced to stop and trade with his opponent.
“He’s not for that division (featherweight). He should go back to 122 pounds [super bantamweight,” said Peñalosa. “He can be a world champion again.”
In looking at the current crop of champions at super bantamweight, I don’t think Donaire can become a world champion at this time. He probably could beat WBC champion Leo Santa Cruz if he could get a fight against him, but Santa Cruz is with Al Haymon and Donaire with Bob Arum of Top Rank. That pretty much rules out any chance of Donaire getting a fight against Santa Cruz.
Donaire can’t fight WBA/WBO champion Rigondeaux because he’s too good, and a second fight would likely be another disaster for Donaire. That leaves only WBA champ Scott Quigg and IBF champion Carl Frampton. Getting fights against them won’t be easy either because their management are selective in the fights they put them in.
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