Super Bantamweight

According to a report by Boxingtalk.com senior writer Scott Schaffer, Guillermo Rigondeaux will no longer be fighting on the September 15th Top Rank pay-per-view card headlined by Martinez vs. Chavez Jr. in Las Vegas. Rigondeaux was scheduled to face Robert Marroquin. 

"Guillermo Rigondeaux is off Top Rank's September 15th show as a result of an injunction issued in Florida state court. Rigondeaux's contractual, but apparently estranged manager, got the injunction forcing the WBA 122-pound title holder off the Sergio Martinez-Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. undercard. Hyde's right to approve any bout for Rigondeaux during the term of the managerial contract was confirmed by the court, and it is believed Golden Boy is interested in making a competing offer."

 

Rigondeaux won gold medals for his native Cuba in both the 2000 and 2004 Olympic games along with a slew of other amateur accolades to long to list. He is widely considered one of the greatest amateurs of all time. Since turning pro in 2009, he was won all ten of his fights with eight of those wins coming by knockout. 

In just his seventh pro fight, Rigondeaux won the WBA interim super bantamweight title. In his ninth fight he stopped the previously unbeaten Rico Ramos in sixth round to gain the full WBA title. 

Rigondeaux had arguably the best performance of his career in his last fight against Teon Kennedy. Rigondeaux dropped the Philadelphia fighter five times in the bout before referee Russell Mora called a halt to the action in the fifth round. 

The fight, which took place on the undercard of the Pacquiao Bradley pay-per-view, was a coming out party of sorts for the former Olympic gold medal winner. After his performance against Kennedy, fight fans were clamoring for a showdown between Rigondeaux and the highly regarded Nonito Donaire. 

This is bad news for the former Cuban amateur star that was just starting to be known to the casual boxing fan. Rigondeaux is already 31 and for the super bantamweight division where speed is the key, his years at the top could be numbered. 

I personally hope this can get cleared up soon and Rigondeaux can get back in the ring as soon as possible. He has all the tools to be a top pound for pound fighter in the world and it would be a shame for legal drama to keep the world from seeing that.

Nonito Donaire (29-1, 18 KO) is officially going to face Japanese legend Toshiaki Nishioka (39-4-3, 24 KO) on Oct. 13 after Jorge Arce (60-6-2, 46 KO) dropped out due to various reasons.

Ring Magazine reports that Donaire-Nishioka will be televised on HBO and take place at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

Mexican legend Arce was originally set to fill the role Nishioka currently resides in, but requests for more money and a September tune-up have effectively taken him out of the fight.

Donaire will defend the WBO and IBF junior featherweight world titles he won against Wilfredo Vazquez (21-2, 18 KO) and Jeffrey Mathebula (26-4-2, 14 KO) respectively.

After winning world titles in three prior divisions—flyweight, super flyweight and bantamweight—Donaire faced Vazquez this past February in his first match at junior featherweight.

Donaire won by split decision, but did not display the type of dominating effort that captured the world's attention when he knocked out Fernando Montiel (48-4-2, 37 KO) with a left hand in Round 2.

In an effort to establish a more impressive performance at junior featherweight, he faced 5'11" Mathebula. The 5'7" Donaire is used to enjoying a height advantage.

Not only did Donaire dominate, he broke Mathebula's jaw in two places in route to an unanimous decision. Donaire and his peers consider Nishioka to be the best in the division.

After defeating Mexican legend Rafael Marquez (40-7, 36 KO) last year, the 36-year-old has been inactive as he awaits a worthy challenger to inspire him to return to the ring.

On the undercard will be undefeated former lightweight champion Brandon Rios (30-0-1, 22 KO), making his junior welterweight debut against Mike Alvarado (33-0, 23 KO) in what will be a slugfest.

Rios and Alvarado come to fight and care nothing for defense. It's safe to predict there will be blood and probably a knockout between the two of them.

Donaire-Nishioka is definitely an upgrade over Donaire-Arce in that it will be seen as a much more competitive and intriguing matchup.

Overall, it's a great looking card and a night to look forward to.

For more Boxing and sports news and analysis, follow me on Twitter @justindavidtate.

Nonito "Filipino Flash" Donaire (28-1, 18 KO)  is putting his WBO super bantamweight title on the line against the much taller and bigger Jeffrey Mathebula (26-3-2, 14 KO) of South Africa, the current IBF super bantamweight titleholder.

The HBO-televised event will take place at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. on Saturday night. Both fighters will be defending their titles for the first time.

According to Donaire, he wants to take the challenge against taller and bigger opponents as he moves up to higher weight classes. Most of Donaire's past opponents were either shorter or smaller as he attempts to face a much taller and bigger opponent on fight night.

Donaire stands 5'7" (1.70 m) with a reach of 68" (173 cm) while Mathebula stands 5'11" with a reach of 70" (178cm).

"The motivation is in my heart to work toward my goals and my dreams," Donaire said via ESPN. "To be a unified champion, then challenge anyone out there and make it undisputed is a dream, and hopefully I can make it happen."

He said he will make fun with this fight as it will be the first time he will face a taller and bigger opponent. It will be a his biggest challenge, he added.

Mathebula, who weighed 121.8 pounds during the weigh-in ceremonies, said he will use his height and reach advantage to score a win over Donaire, who weighed 121.4 pounds.

“I'm confident because I'm going to deliver the goods. I'm going to win Saturday,” he said via ABS-CBN News.

Donaire, who is ranked No.4 in Ring's pound-for-pound listing, is confident he will beat Mathebula, but fight observers say he is risking his title with the South African as he would find himself experimenting with a taller and bigger opponent, not to mention Mathebula's advantage in reach.

Supporting cards for the Donaire vs. Mathebula showdown with TV coverage include: Kelly Pavlik vs. Will Rosinski (super middleweight), Cameron Kreal vs. Anthony Flores (super lightweight) and Joe Wellis vs. Andy Ruiz (heavyweight)

According to a report by Dr. Ed de la Vega of Philboxing, fight officials for the Saturday night boxing event include referee Pat Russel of San Diego and judges Jonathan Davis of Buena Park, Calif., Deon Duarte of South Africa and Steve Morrow of Hollister, Calif.

WBO super bantam weight champion Nonito Donaire (28-1 18KO's) seems to be the most sought out fighter in his new division.

Last night, Abner Mares (24-0-1 13KOs) won the vacant WBC super bantamweight title after outpointing former flyweight champion Eric Morel (46-3 23KOs) in a fight were the veteran refused to give in. The fight was held at a catch weight of 12 pounds and was for the title vacated by Toshiaki Nishioka, who chose to vacate due to him not defending his belt in a 6 month time period. 

Also on last night's card was WBA bantamweight champion Anselmo Moreno, who easily defeated challenger David De La Mora in 9 rounds. After his victory, he stated in his post fight interview that he'd like to face Nonito Donaire if possible. When asked if Mares and Donaire moving up was a plan to avoid him, he replied in a classy fashion saying he didn't know and can't really say.

It seems right now, Donaire is what's hot in the lower weight classes. Everybody seems to want a piece of him and his spot on the pound-for-pound list. Arce has be itching for a fight with Donaire for some time now, Rigondeux has been calling out Donaire as well. Nishioka even seems content with saving his final fight and a year layoff so that he can be ready for a battle with Donaire.

Mares seems to be chasing Donaire up to 122 as well, he weighed in below the 122 weight limit and I personally feel he could still make 118 if he wanted to. Moreno will probably move up to 122 soon as all the money fight and challenges sit one weight class above him.

There were talks of two possible opponents who're leading the race right now. IBF super bantamweight champion Jeffery Mathebula (26-3-2 14KO) and former super flyweight champion Christian Mijares (45-6-2 21KOs). Mathebula could lead to a unification bout, Mijares seems to be the front runner for a shot at Donaire in July.

Mijares seems to be the most likely opponent as Arum as been speaking highly of him lately and talks of them fighting has been in place for quite some time. Mathebula was recently announced as a possible opponent, but probably only to keep options open and keep the possibility of a unification open.

Whoever Donaire faces in July, he'll have a supply of talented opposition to choose for his next bout. Such fighters include:

Anselmo Moreno - 33-1-1 12KOs

Abner Mares - 24-0-1 13KOs

Toshiaki Nishioka - 39-4-3 24KOs

Guillermo Rigondeaux - 9-0 7KOs

Jorge Arce - 60-6-3 46Kos

If he fights anybody other than somebody from this list of fighters, it'll be disappointing as the best available opponents are standing by, waiting for their call.

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Nonito Donaire is ready to carry the title as best Filipino fighter in the world. His skills will be on full display when he battles the formidable Wilfredo Vazquez Jr.

The Philipines most popular fighter, Manny Pacquiao, is nearing the end of his career and it is time Donaire received his just due. Donaire's career has been stellar thus far, as he boasts a record of 28-1 with 18 KOs.

Donaire's opponent is no slouch. Vazquez is 27-1 with 18 KOs to his own credit.

He rebounded from his first defeat at the hands of hard-charging, but weak-punching Jorge Arce. In that fight he lost the WBO Super Bantamweight title. The championship has since been vacated and now he will fight Donaire to regain it.

If he thinks Arce was a difficult draw, he ain't seen nothing yet.

The two almost got into a scuffle in the pre-fight press conference and Vazquez has attempted to gain a mental advantage with trash talk. 

Donaire has vowed to stay focused on his game plan, despite his personal feelings:

I have never been angry as much as I am now but I realize that I need to relax and just follow my game plan.

Vazquez's posturing at the weigh-in said anything but confidence. When young, unproven fighters are as animated as Vazquez was here, it's genuinely to mask a ton of nervousness:

In his fight with Arce, he was gassed by the eighth round, and was clearly bothered by Arce's head-first style. Donaire won't fight Vazquez that way, but he does bring one of the most dangerous combinations of speed and power in to the ring.

Donaire represents the best fighter by far Vazquez will have ever faced, and it will show in the ring. Donaire has KOd quality fighters like Fernando Montiel and TKOd the tough Vic Darchinyan in his career. Vazquez will be next in line for a beating.

With the victory, Donaire will continue to climb into the consciousness of fight fans. As Manny Pacquiao's Hall of Fame career slowly winds down, Donaire is here to carry a now-impressive Filipino fighting tradition.

My pick is Donaire by 6th round KO.

There will be a battle tonight to win the vacant WBO Super Bantamweight title, as Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire will be pitted against Wilfredo "Papito" Vazquez Jr. Both fighters are previous title holders, though only Vazquez has held the title at this level.

The fighters come into tonight without a heavy favorite, but many point to Donaire as the guy with the best chance. He currently holds both the WBC and WBO Bantamweight titles, and is looking to add a third to his collection.

Both fighters have been able to knock out their opponents throughout their respective careers, each accruing 18 knockouts. The only difference is that Vazquez has done that in just 21 wins, while it took Donaire 27 to accomplish the same feat.

Donaire is a quick fighter who can really go the distance, so it will be important for Vazquez to start throwing punches early. This way he will be able to get in his shots, and not give his opponent the chance to stretch out the fight and take it in the later rounds.

Vazquez lost in May of last year to Jorge Arce, a fight in which he lost the Super Bantamweight title. That fight went 12 rounds, which was eventually called by his own corner because they couldn't let the fight go on any longer.

He did bounce back in his last fight, back in October, where he took down Robert Carlos Leyva in three rounds. This fight won't be as easy, but he was definitely able to turn things around following his first career loss.

Donaire hasn't lost since March of 2001, the second fight of his career, which ended by unanimous decision. Since then, he has been on a tear, and has continued to move up from class to class. However, it remains to be seen how he will perform at this level.

With Donaire making his first appearance at this level—he got himself up to 122 lbs to fight here—it will be important for Vazquez to slow him down early and go for the TKO. Otherwise, this will be an uphill battle for him.

Jeff Chase is a Featured Columnist for the Chicago Cubs and Arizona State football.

It was in the third round when Filipino Weng Haya felt he had a chance of winning against the defending WBO featherweight champion Orlando Salido.

It was a perfectly-timed left hand that dropped Salido with seconds left before the round expired. Orlando beat the count but got tagged again by a left hand in the fourth round, his unsteady legs falling down to the canvass. Salido survived the round then surprisingly finished off the Filipino challenger in the eighth round via TKO.

When ordinary fighters could have buckled and waved the white flag, it really never crossed Salido's mind, simply because it doesn't exist in his vocabulary. This was always what he brings to the table—non-stop action. He never backs down and never quits.

Salido has never been a threat, never been part of the equation. When we talk about featherweights, we could only think of two kingpins that have ruled the division, Juan Manuel Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa.

Maybe it has something to do with his 11 losses, eight of which happened while he was between 15 and 21 years old. Or maybe it was the test that stained his career after testing positive for steroids while winning a unanimous decision against Roberto Guerrero. However, he maintained his innocence and immediately took another test at Labcorp which came back negative for any banned substance.

He lost his IBF belt before he even got to keep it. It has always been setbacks piling up one after another.

Winning against Juan Manuel Lopez last year was Salido’s essential moment. He fought against an undefeated fighter who belongs in the Top 10 pound for pound ranking. And after three decades of fighting, the 31-year-old Mexican fighter had finally arrived. The journey was long and bumpy, but he is close to the finish line. Still, one win doesn’t create a legacy.

Lopez needed a rematch, and Salido undoubtedly agreed to a March 3 fight. He needed that rematch more than ever. This time it’s not going to be about the belt…this is going to be a defining legacy after a stained reputation that proved to be futile.

Two knockdowns and Salido fought back with unsteady legs and sheer determination to win against Haya. He knows how crucial and how important the Lopez rematch is. Nobody can drag him down, not now and not on March 3.

Lopez should get ready because it’s really hard to win against an opponent who never quits.

Daniel Ponce de Leon would only close his eyes and remember his four brothers and everything seem to be fine. All of those tiring workouts and failures seemed to be a distant memory in an instant.

It wasn’t a happy thought, but it was something that keeps him going.

Growing up in the Sierra Madre Occidental, a mountain range located in western Mexico, life had been so hard for his tribe and family. Out of five brothers, Daniel was the only survivor because of poverty and rigid conditions.

In such an early age, Daniel had been exposed about hardship and how life can be so unfair. However, it leaves him one value and one good trait—the will to survive.

This September 10 will be one of his toughest battles on his boxing career and one of the steepest mountains he ever could climb. He will be up against the hard-hitting Cuban, Yuriorkis Gamboa.

 Gamboa is an undefeated champion who had 20 wins with only four that went the distance.

Daniel knows there is only one fighter, he could benchmark himself into, and that is Juan Manuel Lopez. However, it wasn’t a competitive fight—de Leon got knocked by Juanma with just seconds on the start of the first round.

Juanma recently suffered his first lone defeat against Orlando Salido via TKO on the eight round…right in front of his hometown crowd in Puerto Rico. It was also Salido that Gamboa fought and won a unanimous decision last year. Much can be said to how Yuriorkis also handled Rogers Mtagwa in just two rounds while Lopez struggled for twelve full rounds.

In short, Gamboa is a dangerous fighter and he can bulldoze his way against Ponce just like what Juanma Lopez had done.

However, Daniel knows that it would never happen. Nobody is going to have a free pass. This time he will be ready.

Like any Mexican warrior, he is willing to die in the ring.

It is still boxing. As long as you got your gloves on, there’s always a chance to win. However, it is also a game. There would always be winners and losers. Daniel doesn’t mind losing; he just wanted to be graceful in defeat. If he goes down, he wants to go down swinging.

Daniel Ponce de Leon will just close his eyes, and everything seemed to be back to normal. All those aching muscles and tiring workout doesn’t matter. This is going to be war, and he will definitely be ready. He got his brothers deep inside his heart…that’s what makes him a better person. That's what made him move forward. As long as his heart is still beating there is still a chance.

 And he had been living with that chance for all his life.

On Showtime from Bayamon, P.R., undefeated and top 10-pound-for-pound boxer Juan Manuel Lopez (30-0, 27 KO) takes on Orlando Salido (34-11-2, 22 KO) for the WBO featherweight title.

If Lopez wins, he will rematch Rafael Marquez, a fighter he finished in eight rounds last year.

A mega-fight between Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa (20-0, 16 KO) is also on the line. Gamboa fought and defeated Salido by unanimous decision last year.

 

Juan Manuel Lopez vs. Orlando Salido

Round 1

Lopez comes out early and uses his jab. Not many power shots being thrown, but Lopez opens up with a wide left to the body. Salido lands a right.

Salido not pressuring Lopez as he promised but looking to establish a slow pace and use his defense. Straight left lands for Lopez.

10-9 Lopez

Round 2

Salido coming out at a faster pace this round. Lopez still stalking. Lopez misses with an uppercut and takes a right hand by Salido. Lopez takes another lead right by Salido. Left lands for Lopez.

One minute to go in the round and both fighters exchange hooks. Wild exchanges inside. Lopez gets caught with a right hand as he ducks down. Lopez fires back with combinations to end the round. Close round.

10-9 Salido

Round 3

Right hook lands for Lopez. Salido throws a right of his own but gets blocked. Lopez using jab to set up right hook. Salido stalking Lopez now.

Lopez taking a right hand as he backs up. Salido misses with a looping right hand. Lopez throws six punches but misses. Left hook lands for Salido. Another close round.

10-9 Lopez

Round 4

Inside exchanges as Salido gets on the ropes. Straight left lands for Lopez. Right hand lands for Salido. Right hand lands again for Salido.

Lopez fires back and connects on Salido. Salido missing wildly but lands a left hook. Salido lands two right hands on Lopez. Lopez misses with a left.

10-9 Salido

Round 5

Lopez lands a right hook on Salido, but it doesn't seem to faze him. Lopez throwing uppercuts and right hooks. Salido misses with overhand left.

Both fighters exchange on the inside with Salido getting the better of it with a right hand. Right hand drops Lopez at the end of the round! 20 seconds to go, and Lopez is badly hurt!

10-8 Salido

Round 6

Lopez gets rocked with a right hand and is all over the ring! Salido is all over him. Right hands landing like crazy for Salido. Lopez gets rocked again and looks gassed. Salido jumps on him and goes right-hand crazy.

Half the round to go, and Lopez is firing back and smacking his chest. Right hand lands for Lopez. Left hook snaps Lopez' head. Both fighters exchanging viciously in this round! Left hand lands for Lopez. Salido misses with a left.

Uppercut misses with Salido but lands a right hand. Lopez misses with a left and goes to the body. 20 seconds left and Salido looks tired. We have another "Round of the Year" candidate for tonight! Insane round.

10-9 Salido

Round 7

Lopez seems to have recovered but is one right hand away from being rocked again. Lopez circling away and throwing power shots. Right hand lands for Lopez as well as one for Salido.

Uppercut lands for Salido. Lopez throws back and takes another right hand. Lopez backs up Salido late in the round and rallies for a big comeback!

10-9 Lopez

Round 8

Right hand lands for Salido. Lopez backs up and is off balance. Lopez bullies forward and takes another right hand followed by a left. Lopez is rocked but is not out.

The referee calls off the bout as Salido unloads on Lopez. Quick stoppage....Lopez was still firing back but visibly hurt. We got a new champion.

Orlando Salido defeats Juan Manuel Lopez by TKO in Round 8.