Naoya Inoue beat Nonito Donaire by unanimous decision in a modern-day classic to win the World Boxing Super Series final in Saitama, Japan, on Thursday.
The 26-year-old superstar was taken the distance by Donaire, 10 years his senior, but was eventually awarded the victory to add the WBA (Super) bantamweight title to his IBF belt.
Over 12 bruising rounds, the momentum ebbed and flowed as Donaire put in a heroic performance that made a mockery of pre-fight predictions he would be dominated.
Eventually, home favourite Inoue took control of proceedings, knocking Donaire to the canvas with a body shot in the 11th round, and he was a worthy winner of the Muhammad Ali Trophy:
Inoue went into the final as strong favourite having finished Emmanuel Rodriguez inside two rounds in the semi-final and Juan Carlos Payano in 70 seconds in the quarters.
Donaire, though, was the fighter who controlled the opening stages. He took blows from Inoue that others may have folded under and set the pace:
In the fourth round, Inoue began to find his range, and in the fifth, he staggered Donaire with a left hook before almost finishing him with a huge right:
Somehow the Filipino-American survived to the bell, and he recovered somewhat before taking more punishment in the sixth:
Not for nothing, though, is Donaire a four-weight world champion, and despite looking finished at points in the fifth and sixth, he somehow turned the fight back in his favour.
He worked away at Inoue in the seventh round before unloading a double right hand that staggered his opponent in the eighth.
It was a quite brilliant response from Donaire given where he had been barely five minutes earlier, and by the end of the eighth round, Inoue had blood pouring from a cut above his right eye:
In the ninth, Donaire went to work again with his right hand, landing a shot flush on Inoue's chin. The Japanese fighter stood his ground, though, and flew out the blocks in the 10th with the clear intention to get the fight done.
And finally, Donaire's age seemed to show as he was pushed back by jab after jab and saved by the bell again.
In the 11th, a thunderous left to the body from Inoue finally sent Donaire to the mat. The veteran just made the count and somehow landed a counter punch amid a flurry from Inoue that slowed his momentum enough to make the bell.
Donaire came bouncing out of his corner for the 12th, in which he needed a knockout for victory.
He did not get it, and Inoue was fully deserving of his win after some quite phenomenal hitting and an admirable show of staying power:
But the defeated Donaire came out with equal credit for having taken one of boxing's brightest stars all the way in a thriller.
Boxing fans will get a rare treat on Thursday with a world-class fight that doesn't have to interfere with weekend plans, assuming you don't mind getting up early stateside. Naoya Inoue will square off against Nonito Donaire in the World Boxing Super Series final, a clash that also serves as a title unification bout.
Inoue will put his IBF world bantamweight title on the line in Saitama, Japan, while Donaire brings his WBA and WBC world bantamweight straps. The undefeated Inoue (18-0, 16 KOs) is a hard-hitting, technical marvel who has dominated boxing's lighter divisions. Ring Magazine ranks "The Monster" as the No. 4 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Donaire (40-5, 26 KOs) is no slouch, as his world titles can attest, but he's not expected to match Inoue's skill and intensity, While the 36-year-old has beaten several excellent fighters, he has lost when it matters most, with defeats against the likes of Carl Frampton, Jessie Magdaleno and Guillermo Rigondeaux. A win over Inoue would be a big upset and represent a career high for the "Filipino Flash."
Here's how to watch.
Naoya Inoue vs. Nonito Donaire Fight Info
When: Thursday, Nov. 7 at 5 a.m. ET (main card)
Where: Super Arena in Saitama, Japan
TV: Sky Sports Action, Sky Sports Mix (UK)
Live stream: DAZN (US, subscription required)
Odds: Inoue -900 (bet $900 to win $100), Donaire +500 (bet $100 to win $500)
Odds courtesy of OddsChecker.com and updated as of Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 3 p.m. ET.
Based on what Inoue's done so far in the WBSS, there's a good chance he ends up dominating Donaire in the final. The quarterfinal saw Inoue knock out Juan Carlos Payano on a left-right combo unleashed with blinding speed. In the semifinal, Emmanuel Rodriguez managed to reach the second round before Inoue ended his night with a vicious body punch. Here's the highlight, per DAZN USA:
This has been Inoue's entire career. He has incredible speed, is great at setting traps and is a ruthless finisher. Five of his last six fights have ended within three rounds. At 26 years old, he may only just be entering his prime.
Donaire certainly has a monumental task in front of him. The underdog is a naturally bigger man, coming down to bantamweight after a few years in the super bantamweight and featherweight ranks. He may be better able to handle Inoue's power, but his opponent's brilliance in other areas may prove to be too much to overcome. At 36 years old, any diminishing speed or conditioning could spell doom for him.
Donaire certainly hasn't been helped by the lack of competition up to this point in the WBSS. He beat Ryan Burnett in the quarterfinal after the Englishman suffered a back injury. He was then set to face the excellent Zolani Tete in the semifinal, but Tete got hurt in training and had to pull out of the bout. Donaire ended up dispatching the replacement fighter, Stephon Young, in six rounds.
Despite the easy path to the final, Donaire expects to be in his top form on Thursday.
"The tougher the fight, the more I show up. That's why I always seek to fight the best, and that's why I've always gone to seek the bigger fights because it always brings out the best in me. This fight [against Inoue] definitely is going to bring out the best of me in every way," he said, per ESPN.com's Steve Kim.
Like Inoue, Donaire knows how to break down an opponent with power punches. However, Bad Left Hook's Scott Christ believes Donaire's best punch could be his downfall:
"Donaire's main tactical flaw is a simple one, and it's been there forever, even back when he was a top P4P guy, and it comes from his greatest asset, the left hook. Donaire has a habit of falling in love with that punch to the point he can be one-dimensional and ineffective. The good news is that, again, his left hook is a genuine eraser, a monster punch. But if it's all he's looking for, he becomes predictable. It may be his only legitimate chance at the upset on Thursday, but Inoue will be prepared for it, too. It can be neutralized."
It won't be at all surprising if the fight takes a couple of rounds to get going, with both boxers aware of each other's gifts. However, Inoue's ability to dismantle opponents by attacking both the head and body, coupled with his speed and youth, should see him holding three world titles when the night is done.
Nonito Donaire will return to the bantamweight division for the first time in seven years to take on the undefeated Ryan Burnett in a World Boxing Super Series Showdown.
The quarterfinal clash, set for Saturday in Glasgow, Scotland, will set up a semifinal against South Africa's Zolani Tete. The bout will also put Burnett's WBA super world bantamweight title on the line (the vacant WBC diamond belt is also up for grabs).
The 35-year-old Donaire is looking to bounce back from a decision loss to Carl Frampton in April. For Burnett, Donaire represents his toughest test yet as a professional. Here's how to watch.
Burnett vs. Donaire Fight Info
When: Saturday, Nov. 3 at 1 p.m. ET
Where: The SSE Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland
Live Stream: DAZN (subscription required)
Odds: Burnett -950 (bet $950 to win $100), Donaire +575 (bet $100 to win $575)
Odds courtesy of OddsShark.com and updated as of Thursday, November 1st at 7 a.m. ET.
Donaire may have the flashier resume as a four-division world champion, but he is the underdog against his much younger opponent.
Bettors are backing the 26-year-old Burnett, who is defending his WBA world title for the second time. The Belfast man hasn't given anyone a reason to doubt him yet with an undefeated record. Last time out, he beat Yonfrez Parejo in March by unanimous decision.
For his opponent, "The Filipino Flash," there is reason to believe he has lost his luster in the ring. Donaire has actually lost two of his last three bouts, dropping the aforementioned match against Frampton and losing to Jessie Magdaleno by decision in November 2016. Now in his mid-30s, the skills that made Donaire a four-division world champion may be eroding.
He's also moving back down to bantamweight for this bout after years at super bantamweight and featherweight. It can be tougher for older fighters to move down a division (or two), and Donaire, a strong puncher, might be sapped of some of his trademark power in trying to make weight.
That said, Donaire is fired up about the opportunity afforded to him by the World Boxing Super Series. He can do something he's never done before: unify a division.
"The only thing I haven't done in boxing is become an undisputed champion," said Donaire on Wednesday, per BBC.com.
"I have won multiple titles, won knockout of the year, fighter of the year but this [chance to become the undisputed bantamweight champion] is giving me the fire."
To do that, Donaire would have to beat Burnett, then snatch Zolani Tete's WBO title. That would set up a final against either Naoya Inoue or Emmanuel Rodriguez, who are set to fight in the other semifinal and hold the WBA and IBF titles, respectively.
It's a dream scenario for Donaire, but Burnett may simply be in better position to pull off such a feat. As Bad Left Hook's Scott Christ explained, Burnett is highly skilled and difficult to beat:
"The tough thing for Nonito is that Burnett’s a very good fighter. Donaire has always been a bit one-dimensional, falls in love with throwing his left hook, waits too much, and Burnett is a young guy who has handily outboxed other good fighters. If Nonito can’t make something happen early here, something that changes Burnett’s approach, I have a hard time seeing Donaire get much done at all."
Donaire is looking for a career capper, while Burnett is slowly but surely making a name for himself in the sport. The match pits two very different fighters against at two different stages of their career. Only one will move on happy.
Carl Frampton turned in a polished performance on Saturday night, demonstrating great precision and speed as he defeated Nonito Donaire via unanimous decision in a featherweight title bout at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
BoxingInsider.com provided the cards:
Once regarded as one of the most impressive boxers in the world, the 35-year-old Donaire (38-5, 24 KOs) looked like a shadow of his peak self. Frampton (25-1, 14 KOs) was the sharper of the two when boxing on the outside and had plenty of success fighting on the ropes.
The Filipino Flash had his moments in the bout, especially with his power punches, but his good spots were few and far between. Frampton's jab was strong, and he looked better suited for fighting as a featherweight, a division Donaire has spent most of his career fighting below.
Bad Left Hook's Tom Craze praised Frampton:
Frampton, 31, earned the interim WBO world featherweight title with the win. Oscar Valdez holds the full WBO title, and he could prove to be the next opponent for Frampton.
"I know he is champion and it will be difficult getting him away from home comforts but he's a brave guy and I think he would take it," Frampton said prior to the bout, per ESPN.com's Nick Parkinson.
After a tense first round, Frampton made the first real stride in the match in the second. He trapped Donaire in the corner and landed several blows, including a straight right that got some swelling started under Donaire's left eye.
Though Donaire put in some good countershots, Frampton proved to be the quicker and more accurate puncher.
CBS Sports' Brian Campbell praised Frampton's technique:
The Northern Irishman seemed to be in complete command, forcing Donaire to the ropes and being sure to circle away from his opponent's feared left hook when in the middle of the ring.
Though Frampton controlled the bout for long stretches, Donaire did flash success at some points. A couple of uppercuts with his back to the ropes landed well in the fifth, and he appeared to stagger Frampton with a similar series of power shots in the seventh round.
Still, Frampton was the better boxer overall, and Ring's Ryan Songalia chalked it up to a simple strategy:
Stamina appeared to play a part in the later rounds, with Frampton keeping up his laser focus and sharpness while Donaire struggled to force the issue. Frampton played it cool, abandoning the close-range fighting in favor of a stiff jab and constant darting in and out of range.
Donaire finally did land his trademark left hook in the dying seconds of the 11th, causing Frampton to stumble a bit and setting up a tense final frame. Donaire went hunting, but Frampton was able to stay out of trouble and secure the victory.
Frampton now sets himself up for his desired bout against Valdez, a match where he will have to bring his best stuff. Donaire has lost what made him a special fighter a half-decade ago and might do well to hang up the gloves.
A former four-weight world champion, he has accomplished plenty in his career and should have no regrets. If he does continue to fight, he did show that he might be able to provide some fighters with trouble, but it will be difficult for him to contend as a featherweight.
Donnie Nietes has accomplished plenty in his 14-year professional boxing career, winning world titles in two divisions, serving as the longest reigning Filipino world champion and keeping his record unblemished for nearly 13 years now.
Nearing his 35th birthday, Nietes (39-1-4, 22 KOs) is looking to add yet another world title to his resume when he takes on Komgrich Nantapech (22-3, 15 KOs) on Saturday night for the vacant IBF World flyweight title.
Saturday's scrap will be just the second fight for Nietes in the flyweight ranks after spending years dominating at light flyweight. In his first fight in his new division, Nietes cruised to a wide unanimous decision over Edgar Sosa to take over the vacant WBO Inter-continental belt.
Nantapech is coming off two-straight KO wins, so his power will have to be accounted for by Nietes in this contest. Here's how to watch the fight.
Nietes vs. Nantapech Fight Info
Where: Cebu City Waterfront Hotel & Casino in Cebu City, Philippines
When: Saturday, April 29 at 6 a.m. ET (6pm local time)
Live Stream: TFC.tv (region restricted, subscription required)
Nietes has been excellent for so long now, his victories must seem preordained in the eyes of many. Though he lacks the recognition of other Filipino greats like Manny Pacquiao and Nonito Donaire, Nietes has quietly gone about his craft, dominating opponents in his home country and performing well in the occasional foray abroad.
Two of his last three fights, against Sosa and Juan Alejo, came at the StubHub Center in Los Angeles. He put in excellent showings in both of those contests, winning all but two rounds on the six judges' scorecards, per BoxRec.com. It's probably too late for him to become a big draw overseas, but there's nothing wrong with dominating at the lighter weights and putting on consistent shows for his legions of fans in the Philippines.
The oddsmakers seem to expect another dominant performance from Nietes. According to OddsShark (as of Thursday, April 27), Nietes is a 1-25 favorite, Nantapech a 10-1 underdog.
Nantapech has a record of 22-3 with 15 KOs to his name, but he hasn't taken on anyone of great significance. He's also 0-2 in the Philippines, with the last loss coming by unanimous decision against Froilan Saludar in October 2013. This certainly doesn't bode well for his chances against a polished, veteran boxer like Nietes.
Of course, there's always the possibility that time and age catch up with Nietes. Nantapech is seven years younger than his esteemed opponent, and his trainer, Rian Munton, believes there is a path to victory on Saturday night.
"I've been watching and studying Nietes's fights on video, his old fights as well as his latest fights. He's a good boxer. But like any other boxer, Nietes has his weakness, and we plan to exploit that weakness," Munton said, per PhilBoxing.com's Dong Secuya.
That's far easier said than done, and it's not like Nietes will be taking his opponent lightly. On the contrary, he's said he has put in more time in training and is even looking to finish the fight early.
"I have a very good feeling about this fight, because I've trained longer. I put in more time and focus, because I want to give a good performance," said Nietes, per the Philippine Star's Abac Cordero.
"This is only my second flyweight match, but I'm confident I will be able to deliver a knockout," he said.
Nietes hasn't scored a true KO since pummeling Moises Fuentes in May 2014, but he has forced three opponents to retire early since then. He dropped Gilberto Parra once in March 2015 and sent Raul Garcia down twice in the third round in a lopsided beatdown last year before the fight ended in the fifth.
Nietes has a little more weight on him in the flyweight division. As long as his punches are sharp and true, he could certainly earn a knockout win over Nantapech, though another easy decision seems the more likely route for him.
Jessie Magdaleno faces the toughest test of his professional career on Saturday, as he will face WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The eye-catching contest is part of an impressive undercard prior to the main event, which sees legendary brawler Manny Pacquiao challenge for the WBO welterweight title against Jessie Vargas. Magdaleno, just 24, has forged a reputation as a tremendous prospect, although he will have his work cut out against a wily champion.
It’s set to be a classic showdown between two fighters at different stages in their career. Here are the key viewing details for this bout and a look at how the tussle is likely to pan out.
Date: Saturday, November 5
Main Card Start Time: 6 p.m. (Local), 9 p.m. (ET), 1 a.m. (GMT)
TV Info: BoxNation (UK), Top Rank (U.S.)
Live Stream: BoxNation Online (UK), TopRank.TV (U.S.)
For Magdaleno, this is the biggest night in what remain the early stages of his professional career. As a Las Vegas native, he has the chance to win a world title in front of a home crowd and do so on a bill containing one of the most iconic sporting names of this generation. It's a massive opportunity.
There are parallels to draw between Magdaleno and Vargas, too, something that’s not escaped the 24-year-old ahead of the bout.
“Both Jessies from Las Vegas beating both big fighters from the Philippines. That’d be something,” he said, per Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times, before predicting a stoppage win. “[…] I'm a big risk taker. Risks make champions. I’ve got to be the stronger, smarter fighter and once he feels my power, he’ll have an entirely different mentality.”
Magdaleno has every right to be confident coming into this one, despite being an underdog in the eyes of many. After all, he’s yet to lose in his professional career, with 23 wins from 23 fights, 17 coming by way of knockout.
Boxing journalist Steve Kim thinks it’s a brilliant chance for Magdaleno to show he can mix it with established elite fighters:
However, Donaire is still a capable fighter. Not only does the Filipino have more experience than his younger opponent, the 33-year-old has shown in recent outings that he’s got power aplenty; he’s won his last four fights in succession, three coming inside the scheduled distance.
With a professional career spanning 15 years, Donaire is a multifaceted and ferocious fighter. The southpaw is content to sit back and pop off shots from the back foot, although he’s also adept at forcing the issue when required. So while Magdaleno will want to start quickly in this one, he’ll need to be wary of the veteran’s broad skill set.
As we can see here courtesy of the Top Rank Boxing Twitter feed, he’s cut a pumped-up figure in the buildup to this fight:
“He has never faced anyone who can punch like I do or move like I can,” Donaire has said ahead of this one, per Dan Rafael of ESPN. “He's in the big leagues now. I know that I'm going to dominate this fight.”
Aside from what should be an interesting stylistic matchup, another intriguing line in the buildup to this fight is Magdaleno’s potential to make the championship weight. Per Pugmire, the last time the man from the United States fought at 122 pounds was in January 2015, with his previous bout—in February against Rey Perez—at the super featherweight limit.
Provided he’s still strong at the super bantamweight mark, Magdaleno will feel as though he has a decent chance here. Throughout his career, he’s shown a willingness to be aggressive and has troubled opponents with the power of his punches. However, he may need to curtail those natural instincts against a savvy opponent early on.
If he can pull this one into the latter stages, then the younger legs of the challenger could become a problem for Donaire, who has been a little static at times in recent bouts. Even so, the power the man from the Philippines possesses, especially in his thunderous left hook, will be a chastening experience for the younger fighter.
Donnie Nietes is 34 years old, hasn't lost a fight in 12 years and has won world titles in two different divisions. One could forgive Nietes if he were to decide to take it easy at this late stage of a successful career, dismantling a couple more up-and-comers or down-and-outers and cashing a few more checks before hanging it up.
Instead, Nietes' faithful fans can thank him, as he is seeking out new challenges.
Nietes vacated his WBO Word light flyweight title in August—a strap he defended nine times— in order to move up to the flyweight ranks and challenge for new belts at 112 pounds.
Though part of this decision is born of pragmatism, as he told BoxingScene.com's Ronnie Nathanielsz that "he was having trouble making the 108 pound limit," Nietes is not doing it just to avoid the stress of keeping off a few pesky pounds.
He's in the division looking to throw his weight around.
Nietes' first challenge as a flyweight is Edgar Sosa, a former titleholder in two divisions and an experienced, game competitor. On the line in this 12-round, headlining scrap is the vacant WBO Inter-Continental flyweight title.
Here's the fight time and viewing info for the bout.
Nietes vs. Sosa Fight Info
When: Saturday, September 24 at 8 p.m. ET
Where: StubHub Center in Carson, California
TV: BeIn Sports Espanol, ABS-CBN or Sky Cable (Philippines)
Live Stream: TFC.tv (pay-per-view, region restricted), BeIn Sports Connect (subscription required)
Preview
Saturday marks Nietes' second fight in the United States as he looks to build a bigger profile outside of his native Philippines. His previous stateside bout, a unanimous-decision win over Juan Alejo in October 2015, was also at the StubHub Center.
Nietes' is coming off a win a fifth-round stoppage win over Raul Garcia in May. He brought plenty of firepower to the match, stalking Garcia around the ring and knocking him down twice in the third round before getting the fighter to quit two rounds later.
Capable of scoring knockout blows while also outpointing his opponents with shrewd movement, Nietes almost always comes into the ring knowing he can handle whatever challenge is put in front of him. Just because he is in a new division, doesn't mean he will take his opponents lightly.
Despite holding a 15-0 record against Mexican boxers, Nietes told ESPN.com's Dan Rafael in August that he's wary of Sosa:
He's Mexican. That means he is a tough fighter. He's a former world champion and he's fought some of the best in his division. I will be sure not to let my guard down and pour all what we've trained for, because I know this won't be an easy first [flyweight] fight for me.
Sosa is coming off an easy win over the unheralded Orlando Garcia Guerrero in February, a bounceback bout he needed after a second-round TKO loss to Roman "Chocolatito" Gonzalez in May of last year.
At 37 years old, Sosa may not have much left in the tank, but he's logged 449 rounds in his career and knocked out 30 opponents, per BoxRec. He hasn't yet seen Nietes in the ring, but he's seen most else the sweet science has to offer. Sosa is committed to an aggressive approach against Ahas.
“I know that if I stick pressure we will replicate. That’s the idea. You make smart, aggressive boxing,” said Sosa, per the Philippine Star's Abac Cordero.
Having previously held a world title in junior flyweight but thrice tried and failed to win the WBC World flyweight title, Sosa can look at Nietes as a (slim) chance at one last statement win, if not one propelling him to another world-title shot.
Of course, Nietes, has said he harbors world-title ambitions, and as the younger, more accomplished fighter, is the heavy favorite. Per Odds Shark (as of Thursday, Sept. 22), Nietes is a 100-769 favorite, while Sosa has 22-5 odds.
Nietes has fine power and could find an aggressive strategy suits him at the slightly higher weight. He'll have to be careful getting caught on his way inside, as Sosa boasts a slim reach advantage (67 inches to Nietes' 65.5, per BoxRec).
This should be an entertaining fight between two smart, veteran boxers. It's one Nietes is likely to win, perhaps even inside the distance. A good showing against Sosa and it might not be long before Nietes is taking on the likes of Juan Estrada or Gonzalez in a world-title bout.
Popular Filipino boxer Nonito Donaire made quick work of a clearly overmatched opponent on Saturday night, notching a third-round technical knockout win over the unheralded Zsolt Bedak at the Cebu City Sports Complex in Cebu City, Philippines.
The one-sided victory marked Donaire's first defense of his WBO World super bantamweight title since capturing the vacant belt with a win over Cesar Juarez in December 2015. He had previously held the WBO World title for a stunning reign in 2012, before losing it and the WBA Super World super bantamweight title to the Cuban technician Guillermo Rigondeaux in April 2013.
Donaire (37-3, 24 KOs) knocked down Bedak (25-2, 8 KOs) twice in the second round, firing his lightning-fast hands to find the mark with incredible power and precision.
Bedak survived to the third round, but a left hook from Donaire stunned him and eventually forced him to his knee. The referee didn't like what he saw from the bloodied fighter and waved off the bout before Bedak could suffer any further harm.
Boxing writer Graham Houston summed up what worked for Donaire:
Bedak was simply a steppingstone to bigger and better bouts for Donaire. The 32-year-old Hungarian's only other opponent of note was Wilfredo Vazquez Jr., whom he lost to by TKO in 2010.
The 33-year-old Donaire has suffered losses to Rigondeaux and Nicholas Walters in recent years, but he remains popular in the Philippines and is still eager to prove himself with a world title in tow.
USA Today's Mike Coppinger relayed Donaire's preferred options for his next opponent:
Rappler Sports noted a large crowd was on hand to see The Filipino Flash in action:
Donaire was content to feel out Bedak in the first round, but a pair of quick-strike counter lefts late in the frame showed he was well prepared for his opposition.
Midway through the second round, Donaire's fast hands stunned Bedak and scored a knockdown. A left hook to the skull wobbled Bedak, and after a couple of misses, an uppercut sent the Hungarian falling backward to the mat.
Bad Left Hook noted it wasn't just Donaire's speed that troubled Bedak:
Bedak chose to engage Donaire rather than play defense, and his aggression led to a second knockdown in the round just before the closing bell. Donaire rocked him with a series of left-handed shots, and again Bedak went tumbling backward for another count from the referee.
Rappler Sports had a look at the second knockdown:
It was clear that Bedak, sporting a bloody nose, was not long for the fight. Donaire quickly put the night to bed in the third round, scything through Bedak's weak defense with his left hand and forcing the referee to stop the carnage early.
It was an easy win for Donaire, but that was expected. Bad Left Hook's Tom Craze noted he hasn't taken on strong opposition as of late:
Donaire isn't quite the electrifying fighter who won the Boxing Writer Association of America's Fighter of the Year award in 2012, but he's still a fine boxer capable of making some noise in the super bantamweight ranks.
Lest he lose credibility outside of his native Philippines, Donaire should seek a more challenging opponent in the near future. Rigondeaux's otherworldly defense and counterpunching might still be too much for Donaire, but the latter did manage a 10th-round knockdown in that bout.
A bout with either Carl Frampton or Scott Quigg would also serve as a necessary step up for Donaire, who looks to have plenty left in the tank.
WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire (36-3, 23 KO) will return to the ring on Saturday in Cebu, Philippines. Zsolt Bedak (25-1, 8 KO) will provide the opposition in what could turn out to be a slugfest. Bedak will be getting his second crack at a world title.
Back in 2010, Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. stopped Bedak in a brutal battle. The 32-year-old Hungarian hopes to have better luck with this opportunity.
Here's the viewing information:
When: Saturday at 8:30 a.m. ET
Where: Cebu City Sports Complex, Cebu City, Philippines
TV: ABS-CBN Channel 2 and Hungary M4 Sport
Donaire Bests Rugged Juarez
Back in December, after dominating Cesar Juarez in the early rounds, Donaire was tested in a major way in the latter frames. Juarez's granite chin withstood several crushing blows from The Filipino Flash. Like a machine, Juarez kept coming back for more, and he wore Donaire down and got the best of him late.
However, Donaire had built such a large lead on the scorecards that the deficit was impossible for Juarez to overcome. Donaire earned the unanimous-decision win, but it was probably a lot tougher than he expected.
Prior to Saturday's bout, Donaire talked about having his sights set on the best fighters in his weight region. Per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael, Donaire said: "I want to be the best in my division, so I seek to fight the best out there from [Carl] Frampton to [Guillermo] Rigondeaux."
Bedak isn't on either of those guys' level, but Donaire learned from his scrape with Juarez that he can't afford to take any opponent lightly.
Bedak Outpoints Otieno
Bedak last fought in September 2015, when he easily defeated 42-year-old Nick Otieno. The latter came into the fight with a modest 29-10 record. Otieno is the equivalent of a club fighter, and the fight was basically a stay-busy bout for Bedak.
While Bedak hasn't faced top-notch competition, he only has the one loss to Vazquez on his record. He's a tough customer who will not lie down for Donaire. Heart and will alone won't be enough to get the job done.
Donaire's speed is the biggest weapon in this fight. Vazquez outclassed Bedak primarily on his edge in quickness. Donaire is even more explosive than Vazquez.
In recent fights, Donaire has had a tendency to lean on his big left hook too heavily. This has led to exciting fights, but it's also provided an opening for opponents who might not have otherwise been competitive with Donaire.
Against Bedak, that bad habit won't cost Donaire. He's so superior when it comes to speed and overall boxing acumen that he'll likely become the second man to defeat Bedak via stoppage.
Look for Donaire to win by seventh-round TKO.
