Donaire vs. Rigondeaux this Saturday, April 13th at the Radio City Music Hall

By Boxing News - 04/07/2013 - Comments

rigondeaux655By Chris Williams: WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (31-1, 20 KO’s) takes on WBA champ Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KO’s) this Saturday night in a fight that will be televised on HBO from the Radio City Music Hall, in New York, New York.

The last time Donaire fought in New York, he was booed loudly for his unimpressive performance in beating Omar Narvaez by a 12 round unanimous decision in 2011. Although Donaire won the fight, he was made to look terrible by the much smaller 5’3” southpaw super flyweight Narvaez.

All Narvaez had to do to make Donaire look poor was take away his left hook by keeping his right arm held high, and that was all that was needed. Donaire’s left hook was blocked all night long by Narvaez and after a while, Donaire stopped throwing it because it was getting blocked each time.

Donaire was forced to use his jab and right hand most of the fight, and those weapons proved to be less than thrilling to the boxing fans that paid to see the fight in New York. Even at home, I was booing Donaire’s poor performance and thought he was ripe for the picking on that night.

This Saturday night, Donaire is going to have to be a little more aggressive against Rigondeaux if he doesn’t want to be booed out of the Music Hall like the last time he fought in New York. Both Donaire and Rigondeaux are counter punchers, but it’s on Donaire to be the one to lead because he’s the guy that’s trying to become a huge star and win over boxing fans.

Donaire literally can’t afford to play it safe against Rigondeaux if he doesn’t want the boxing fans watching the fight nationwide on HBO to see and hear all the New Yorker fans booing Donaire.

If Donaire comes out swinging and fighting in an exciting style, he can really help himself become the star that he’s hoping to be. Of course, it won’t exactly help if Donaire comes out swinging and is immediately put down with a fight ending body shot, but that’s a risk that Donaire is going to have to take if he wants to be the next Manny Pacquiao.

Donaire is supposed to be the replacement for Manny in the eyes of many of Pacquiao’s fans. Well, here’s his big chance to start showing the fans he can be that kind of fighter instead of the cautious counter puncher he’s always been.



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