Flyweight

There’s no mightier fall in all of sports than what happens in boxing.

Just ask Nonito Donaire.

Last year, within the span of just one week, he went from being guffawed over and celebrated by the Boxing Writers Association of America as the best boxer of the previous year to being just about completely dismantled over 12 rounds by Guillermo Rigondeaux in what was the latter’s 12th professional fight.

Donaire fought just once more after, a rematch with Vic Darchinyan in November.

The two had met six years prior and had gone opposite ways since. While Donaire was near the top of almost every legitimate news outlet’s pound-for-pound list, Darchinyan had lost fights with just about every upper-echelon fighter he’d faced since.

Regardless, Donaire appeared sluggish and unsure of himself in the bout. Where in their first encounter, Donaire was fast, accurate and deliberate with his offense, in the second fight he appeared lost at times.

So lost, in fact, that by the time Donaire caught Darchinyan in Round 9 with the punch that started the technical knockout win, he was down on two of the three judges’ scorecards and only even on the other.

So is this guy still elite?

There’s lots to like about Donaire. He’s absurdly athletic and has real power in both hands.

His nickname, “The Filipino Flash,” is spot on, too. Donaire has fast hands and feet, and he’s able to move his body in and out of harm’s way so well that it looks at times as if his opponent is stuck in mud.

More importantly, Donaire is an accomplished professional. Look, it’s one thing to have talent, but it’s another thing altogether to actually do something with it.

Boxing history is filled with names of people you wouldn’t recognize who probably should have been elite-level superstars. Why? Because they didn’t know how to apply the craft.

But Donaire knows. The 31-year-old is a multiple-time world titleholder and appears to be on his way to more.

In fact, he has a chance to secure such against Simpiwe Vetyeka on Saturday in China. While Vetyeka isn’t the lineal champion of the division (that honor is vacant per the keeper of such things, the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board), he does hold the WBA featherweight title belt and is ranked No. 1 overall in the division.

While a win over Vetyeka wouldn’t prove Donaire is still elite, it certainly wouldn’t hurt the argument for him being so either.

Despite being 1-1 in his last two fights, Donaire is still one of the top talents in the sport.

Losing to Rigondeaux, arguably the premier fighter of the lower weight classes, is nothing to hold against him. That’d be the equivalent of saying Tim Bradley is any worse for having lost to Manny Pacquiao, or that Pacquiao is for having lost to Juan Manuel Marquez.

When elite fighters face each other, someone has to lose. The idea that one should craft a career to avoid losses is one that has only taken hold in recent history.

Throughout boxing history, the best almost always wanted to prove themselves as the best. That’s why all the great fighters you can think have multiple losses on their records.

Ray Robinson lost 19 times. Muhammad Ali lost five times. Roberto Duran lost 16 times.

Moreover, while it appeared Donaire was on his way to a sluggish loss to Darchinyan last year, he did manage to pull out the win.

In fact, shouldn’t credit be given for when a fighter looks slow and sluggish but still somehow finds a way to get the win?

Isn’t that what elite fighters do?

The jury is still out on Donaire. While he’s had a solid professional career thus far, he still has much of the ladder to climb if he hopes to reach the status his history and ability indicate he can achieve.

If Donaire hopes to make it all the way there, amid the folks at the very tip top of the pyramid, the Floyd Mayweathers and Andre Wards of the world, he’ll need to take care of Vetyeka first.

Because an elite fighter would.

Kelsey McCarson contributes to Bleacher Report, The Sweet Science and Boxing Channel. He is a member of the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board. 

WBA and WBO flyweight champion Juan Francisco “El Gallo” Estrada (25-2, 18 KO) is one of the best young champions in the sport. At 24 years old, he’s already had 27 fights and captured two world titles.

Because he competed as a flyweight, his impressive resume flies under the radar in the boxing community.

On Saturday night, Estrada will defend his titles against tough Filipino Richie “Magnum” Mepranum (27-3-1, 6 KO) in the champion’s home town of Sonora, Mexico.

Can Mepranum come in and pull the monumental upset?

When: Saturday, April 26 at 6 p.m. ET

Where: Puerto Peñasco, Mexico

The Book on Mepranum

Though Mepranum doesn’t bring a wealth of punching power into the ring, the 26-year-old is a shade taller and experienced. This is his second opportunity to win a world title.

He was knocked out by Julio Cesar Miranda in 2010 when both fought for the vacant WBO title.

Mepranum was just 21 years old then.

He’s hoping more maturity and experience will guide him to a better result this time around.

The Book on Estrada

Having an opportunity to fight in front of his hometown fans was important to Estrada. Per Rafael Soto of Zanfer Promotions (in Spanish)—the organization that promotes both fighters—Estrada turned down potentially more lucrative sites to have this bout on his home turf.

In an interview with Soto, Estrada couldn't hide his excitement:

I am very motivated and excited. I can not believe that what we dreamed many times is becoming a reality, and now I will defend my titles in front of my people. I thank God for all that he has given me. We will make a great defense and a great party for me and all. 

As a rising star in the sport, it may have been a smarter decision to have the bout in the United States. It’s possible a stateside location could have led to TV coverage.

That would have generated more exposure for him. 

In any case, Estrada is looking to make Mepranum just another link in his chain of victims.

Prediction

Mepranum is a slick puncher, with a slight edge in length (5’6” to 5’5”), but he isn’t as explosive as Estrada.

The champion has very good power, especially as a counter puncher. He’s always aggressive, but because he’ll be eager to make a statement in front of his fans, Estrada will apply even more pressure to Mepranum.

I’m betting Magnum lacks the firepower to keep the champion at bay. Estrada will retain his title with a seventh-round TKO.

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The clash between WBA flyweight champion Juan Carlos Reveco (32-1, 17 KO) and Manuel Vides (15-2, 9 KO) is finally going to happen after being postponed twice.

Most recently, talks were centered around the fight taking place on March 15, per Joel Isaac Gonzalez of Boxing Scene. Finally, all involved have agreed to do it on March 21, per BoxRec.

When: Friday, March 21 at 10 p.m. ART / 9 p.m. ET

Where: Villa La Nata Sporting Club, Buenos Aires

Watch: RPC Channel 4 (Panama); TyC Sports (Argentina)

Reveco will have home-field advantage in this bout. The 30-year-old from Las Heras, Mendoza, Argentina has fought almost all of his fights in his home country. This will be his fourth defense of his title since winning it from Masayuki Kuroda in Feb. 2013.

Vides is a young, up-and-coming fighter with a sparkling record, but he's taking a huge step up in competition. Is the 23-year-old Panamanian ready to travel to the champion's home country and dethrone him?

The Book on Reveco

Reveco has established himself as a legitimate champion in the competitive 112-pound weight class. With potential big fights on the horizon with fellow champion Juan Francisco Estrada and pound-for-pound contender Roman Gonzalez, Reveco needs to put Vides in his place Friday night.

If he struggles with the less-experienced youngster, it could create doubt about how prepared he'd be for fights with the elite fighters in his weight class.

Reveco is revered in his country. In the following video, he discusses an upcoming title defense with local media.

The Book on Vides

Vides has only 81 rounds of experience, while the champion has 207. That's a huge advantage for Reveco, but Vides does have the longer reach. Per BoxRec, Vides' reach is two inches longer than Reveco's.

Briggs Seekins of Bleacher Report explained what Vides needs to do to win the title: "Vides is going to need to exploit his length advantage to win this fight by keeping Juan Carlos Reveco at the full extension of his punches. Vides has a decent jab, but he's going to need to be active with it, firing two or three at a time." 

Without a question, Vides will face an uphill battle against a veteran champion fighting in front of his fans. Winning a decision in this environment might be next to impossible for Vides.

Prediction

If Reveco were older, it would be easier to make a case for Vides. The challenger is a good young fighter, but this is simply a case of a fighter biting off more than he can chew. 

Reveco will outbox Vides and maintain his hold on the WBA title with a unanimous decision.

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@BMaziqueFPBR

Even at age 38, Omar "El Huracan" Andres Narvaez (40-1-2, 21 KO) is going strong. The reigning WBO super flyweight champion will defend his title against David Carmona (16-1-4, 8 KO) Saturday night in Narvaez's native Argentina.

This will be Narvaez's third title defense of 2013. He won a split decision over Felipe Orucuta in May. Most recently, he scored a 10th-round TKO victory over Hiroyuki Hisataka in August.

Carmona is largely inexperienced and though his age is unlisted on BoxRec.com, the video below lists his age as 21.

He is the reigning WBO youth super flyweight champion, so this represents a chance to move up to the big time within the WBO ranks.

El Huracan represents a major step up in competition for the Mexican fighter.

Can he make a name for himself at the expense of a legend? Here's how you can watch the action. 

When: Saturday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. EST

Where: Villa La Nata Sporting Club, Benavidez, Buenos Aires, Argentina

TV: TyC Sports in Argentina

The Book on Narvaez and Carmona

In His Comfort Zone

Narvaez has never lost at flyweight or super flyweight. The lone time he ventured above the 115-pound weight limit, he lost a lopsided unanimous decision to Nonito Donaire in 2011.

The two champions clashed at bantamweight, but Narvaez did not look good at 118 pounds. Perhaps that was more about Donaire's brilliance than it was about three extra pounds.

The bout also marked the only time Narvaez has ever fought in the United States. Almost all of El Huracan's fights have been in his native Argentina—including the last five.

At this point in his career, it is hard to imagine him fighting anywhere else.

Who is David Carmona?

Carmona is young and a bit inexperienced as a professional, but one look at his in-ring demeanor shows that he's comfortable in the ring. That could change against a hard-charging and aggressive veteran like Narvaez, though.

Carmona won the WBO youth title by defeating Danny Flores in May. In a rematch, he drew with Flores in July. In his last bout, he beat Antonio Tostado Garcia in September. If nothing else, Carmona is staying extremely active.

He's getting the opportunity of a lifetime here. A win would take his career to the next level.

Prediction

I liked what I saw of Carmona in the bout with Garcia. He has decent head movement and counter-punching instincts. With that said, I question if he has the punching power—at least at this stage in his career—to keep Narvaez at bay.

The Argentinean has a great chin, stamina and he's a good body puncher. I see him wearing Carmona down late. Amidst the pressure of performing on a bigger stage and behind enemy lines, the young Mexican will falter.

This is too tall of an order for him this early in his career. Narvaez will retain the title with a unanimous decision victory.

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"Oh my God."

Although it was never quite verbalized, you could read the sentiment on the face of boxing champion Nonito Donaire.

In the second round, opponent Vic Darchinyan landed a pair of stunning left hands that had Donaire shaken. Fighting for the first time since losing badly to two-time Cuban Olympic champion Guillermo Rigondeaux, and for the first time since his wife Rachel gave birth to a baby boy in July, Donaire questioned exactly what he was doing in a squared circle with the likes of Darchinyan, a brutal Armenian brawler with power to spare.

Time and again Darchinyan lowered his head, sometimes nearly to waist level, and let loose with a thunderous left. Time and again Donaire took the blow, his own counter left flying too high to do the slightest bit of good.

"Is this it for me?"

Donaire admitted to HBO's Max Kellerman that the thought briefly crossed his mind as Darchinyan demolished his face, causing the 30-year-old Filipino to fear his cheekbone was broken.

But, a gamer through and through, Donaire kept his composure, or at least the appearance of it. For a professional fighter, keeping your head, even as that small voice inside is screaming that you can't possibly continue doing this to yourself, is half the battle. To continue stalwart and unflappable as the world falls apart all around is just part of the game for a boxer at the highest level.

And make no mistake—when he tried to box, even against the aging Darchinyan, Donaire was a man woefully ill-prepared for the job at hand. It was a fight designed for Donaire to win, and in spectacular fashion. Eventually, in the penultimate ninth round, he did so with a flurry of punches—but not before a fighter he dispatched with ease six years ago gave him fits.

The judges' scorecards speak volumes. Texas officials had Darchinyan up 78-74, 78-74, and 76-76 going into the ninth round. Short of the knockout, or a succession of knockdowns, Donaire was going to see a third check in the loss column. His plan to move backwards and counter Darchinyan was a complete failure.

"More than anything, Donaire is a puncher," Kellerman said during the fight. "...He's a puncher dressed up as a boxer."

If that was ever in doubt, it was revealed as the truth against Rigondeaux, a brilliant technical fighter and amazing tactician. If he hopes to win the rematch he called for after the fight, Donaire, and his dueling trainers, father Nonito Senior and Robert Garcia, have to embrace his limitations—and his strengths.

In a boxing match, he stands no chance against Rigondeaux. To resume his career where he left off, climbing the pound-for-pound ladder and poised to succeed Manny Pacquiao as the Phillipines' favorite son, Donaire has to dispatch Rigondeaux. To do so, he will have to leave boxing far behind.

For that fight, Donaire will have to be ready. Just verbalizing confidence will not be enough.  Athleticism, ferocity and his natural power will need to stand in for science. Donaire will need to force the kind of crazy exchange that punctuated the fourth round, a wild display of power punching that must have felt like a wind tunnel to boxing fans ringside. He'll need to repeat it time and again if he wants to avenge his loss against Rigondeaux.

Nonito Donaire is beginning a new chapter of his boxing career on Saturday night, and he will start it with a big win over Vic Darchinyan.

After winning 30 consecutive fights, Donaire lost his second bout ever in April, losing to Guillermo Rigondeaux by unanimous decision.  "The Filipino Flash" dropped to 31-2 in his career and lost his WBO and Ring super bantamweight titles.

Before that fight, he was on top of the world and considered by many to be the best fighter of 2012.  He was arguably one of the best pound-for-pound fighters, but now he's just on the undercard for Saturday as the co-main event.

While some seem to be doubting him, he will prove everyone wrong on Saturday with a big win over Darchinyan.

In 2012, Donaire couldn't be stopped, going 4-0 for the year with wins by knockout, technical knockout, split decision and unanimous decision.  His only other loss besides the one in April happened all the way back in March 2001, but he then went on a tear.

The fight on Saturday against Darchinyan is actually a rematch from 2007.  Donaire won the bout without much effort, taking down Darchinyan by fifth-round TKO.

Since losing to Donaire, Darchinyan's career has gone downhill.  That fight was his first loss, but he now has five of them after losing three of his last seven bouts.  At 37 years old, he is on the tail end of his career.

Donaire understands this.  He also knows that if he loses this fight, his career in boxing may be over. The hype surrounding him has faded since the Rigondeaux loss, and another loss now would officially kill it.

Fortunately, he's still a terrific fighter.  At 30 years old, he's taken down some tough competition and has shown some impressive power over his career with 20 knockouts.

The only real knock on him is that he doesn't always stick with the fundamentals. Sometimes he goes for style points instead of staying technically sound.  We saw this weakness exposed in April, but Darchinyan isn't as technical as Rigondeaux, so that shouldn't be an issue in this fight.

This is an ideal opportunity for Donaire to get back on track with a win.  In 2007, he dominated Darchinyan, who is well past his prime now in 2013.  

After losing just his second career fight, Donaire is beginning a new chapter in his boxing career.  With what we've seen from him and his opponent, he will win on Saturday and set a positive tone for the next chapter.

There is a new interim WBA world flyweight champion, and his name is Koki Eto (14-2-1). The 25-year-old from Japan defeated Kompayak "Fierce Tiger" Porpramook (50-5) on Thursday via unanimous decision in front of Porpramook's countrymen in Thailand.

This fight was action-packed.

Despite the home-field advantage, Eto's youth and reach were too much for the more experienced, stout Thai fighter. The fight was fought at a frenetic pace, and Eto seemed to clearly have more gas in the tank in the latter rounds.

Early in the fight, Eto set the tone by engaging Porpramook in spirited exchanges, and the young Japanese fighter got the better of many of them. Knowing he was competing in what equated to a road fight, Eto didn't rest on his seemingly obvious lead.

The fight had been competitive, and it was feasible that a few of the closer rounds could have been scored for Porpramook. Eto took the possibility of a controversial score out of the judges' hands by scoring a knockdown in the final round.

As it turned out, he needed it to secure the win. Per Boxrec.com, the judges scored the fight: 114-113 114-113 116-111, all for Eto. Without the knockdown, the outcome of the fight would have been up for grabs.

The loss has to be a painful one for Porpramook. Despite losing in front of the Thai faithful, he also dropped the interim strap he had earned in his previous fight with Jean Piero Perez. That fight had marked a return to facing top-flight competition after suffering a KO loss to Adrian Hernandez in Oct. 2012.

Porpramook had mowed down three nondescript challengers between the Hernandez and Perez bouts, but this loss—though the fight was epic—is a humbling one.

As for Eto, the future is bright for the young road warrior. He won a thrilling bout over a respected veteran fighter and should have some attractive options moving forward.

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