Rigondeaux v Donaire – 2 cents

donaire9By boxflavour: When looking at Nonito Donaire v Guillermo Rigondeaux, you have to look beyond just two names on a sheet, before Googling in a vain attempt to learn more about the fighters in question. Admit it, you had sort of heard of Donaire, Standard. But Rigo, nah , only the true diehards follow the amateur careers; this is even more applicable the lower down the weights you go.

I salute you, all you Youtube hunters, entering the keywords “Rigondeaux highlights/knock outs/knocked down?”, but unless you watch a fighter over his time line, and try and watch EVERY moment of every fight, then MAYBE you have a chance at predicting the outcomes. This assumes you know how to process a fighters style, technique, strengths, weaknesses , etc etc etc. Once you have done that , (and only then!!) are your truly able to post an article on a subject of which you know nothing

Now- Having done this myself, it is fairly clear.

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2013 the year of the Jackal! Rigondeaux

rigonBy Jack Tarpey: @jackboxing24 – This coming Saturday the boxing public will be spoilt to the mouth-watering match up of 2012’s fighter of the year judged by ring TV, Nonito “the flash” Donaire vs The most accomplished amateur boxer of all time in Guillermo “the Jackal” Rigondeaux.

Rigondeaux has won 2 gold medals from Olympic boxing in 2000 and 2004 in the Bantamweight class. He is a seven time Cuban national champion with over 400 fights and just 12 losses, his last defeat was way back in 2003 to Aghasi Mammado losing 16:13 however Rigondeaux had already beat him twice before.

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Donaire’s trainer: Rigondeaux will fight nervous and scared

donaire222By Chris Williams: Robert Garcia, the trainer for WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (31-1, 20 KO’s), believes that his opponent WBA super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KO’s) doesn’t deserve the fight with Donaire and he sees him as being little more than a nervous ball of energy on Saturday at the Radio City Music Hall in New York, New York.

Garcia said to the Boxingchannel.com “I don’t think he [Rigondeaux] deserves it [the fight]. I don’t think he’s got a shot…this is going to be an easy fight for Donaire. Rigondeaux is going to fight nervous, scared…I know boxing.”

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Donaire a 2 to 1 favorite to beat Rigondeaux on Saturday night

rigondeaux66By Chris Williams: The betting establishment has installed WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (31-1, 20 KO’s) as a 2 to 1 favorite to defeat WBA super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KO’s) this Saturday night in their HBO televised fight from the Radio City Music Hall in New York, New York.

What that means is exactly nothing because it’s all guesswork when you’re dealing with an unbeaten fighter that has won two gold medals like Rigondeaux has. There’s nothing in his past to go on that would make you think he’s going to lose.

The only thing the bettors have to go on is that Donaire has looked good in beating over-the-hill fighters like Jorge Arce and Toshiaki Nishioka, as well as much smaller guys than him like Fernando Montiel and Omar Narvaez.

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The left hand in Donaire-Rigondeaux

rigondeaux9By James Sexton: After reading through several articles on boxing websites and the twitter feeds of several boxing fans, I find it hard to believe how little of a chance people are giving Guillermo Rigondeaux in his upcoming fight with 2012 fighter of the year Nonito Donaire.

I have heard a lot about how the main factor in the fight will be the powerful left hook of Donaire which has given so many other fighters problems in the past, but what I am not reading about, is the left hand which Rigondeaux possesses. Numerous times in his campaign as a professional he has dropped opponents with perfectly timed straight left hands to the head or even the body of his opponents.

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Donaire believes Montiel is a tougher opponent than Rigondeaux

rigondeaux22By Chris Williams: WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (31-1, 20 KO’s) hasn’t fought WBA super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KO’s), yet Donaire believes that Fernando Montiel and Abner Mares are tougher opponents than him.

At this point, Donaire is guessing because he doesn’t have any idea what it’s going to be like to face Rigondeaux until they meet up this Saturday night at the Radio City Music Hall, in New York, New York.

Donaire said to espn “I think Montiel is a much tougher fight. There are a lot of guys out there. I think [Abner] Mares is a tougher fight.”

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Can Rigondeaux handle Donaire´s big left?

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.

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

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.

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Donaire-Rigondeaux undercard pretty thin in talent

rigondeaiux65DonBy Chris Williams: Bob Arum of Top Rank really scrimped on picking out talent for the April 13th undercard fight between WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (31-1, 20 KO’s) and WBA World super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux at the Radio City Music Hall, in New York, New York, USA.

Arum just loaded the undercard with prospects and nothing else, and a lot of the guys may never make out of the prospects/fringe contender stage.

Here’s the undercard for the Rigondeaux-Donaire fight:

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Kellerman impressed with Rigondeaux

rigondeaux00By Chris Williams: HBO broadcaster Max Kellerman says he’s very, very impressed with the talent level of WBA World super bantamweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KO’s) as he gets ready for his fight next Saturday night against WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (31-1, 20 KO’s) at the Radio City Music Hall in New York, New York.

Kellerman: “Of all the Cubans that have turned pro, he’s the guy that I’m most excited about. I thought he’s the most real and posed the greatest threat to those in the pros because of his superb defense and real punching power.”

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