Flyweight

Juan "El Gallo" Francisco Estrada (25-2) successfully defended his WBO and WBA flyweight titles against Milan "El Metodico" Melindo (29-1) at Cotai Arena, Venetian Resort in Macao, China.

Estrada proved his split-decision win over Brian Viloria in April was no fluke. Estrada dethroned Viloria to earn both titles and was dominant against Melindo in his first defense.

He floored the previously unbeaten Filipino in the 11th round and pounded his way to a decision win. Per BoxRec.com, the final scorecards read: Takeshi Shimakawa 117-109, Zoltan Enyedi 118-109, Rafael Ramos 118-109.

Though the scores were lopsided in favor of the champion, Melindo didn't make this an easy fight.

The two men had several exciting exchanges, but Estrada seemed to get the better of most of them. At just 23 years old, he is one of the best up-and-coming young stars in the sport.

He's a flyweight, so he'll likely never receive his due, but Estrada is extremely talented and he's gained a reputation for putting on a great show.

A clash with IBF champion Moruti Mthalane to further unify the titles would be a logical fight for Estrada to take on next. The South African was seemingly having difficulty finding a South African promoter to promote his next fight in his homeland.

Per Super Sport, Mthalane is scheduled to take on Silvio Olteanu in Germany with no date announced as of yet. No South African promoter made the requisite bid to promote the fight.

Pairing Mthalane and Estrada together may be tricky, so a rematch with Viloria may be a more realistic and lucrative next step for Estrada.

Their first fight was wildly competitive and close. Viloria has perhaps the biggest name in the division worldwide, so it would make sense for Estrada to agree to a rematch.

Viloria told ABS-CBN News in April he wanted a rematch. With Estrada having captured such a decisive win, it would seem appeal for Estrada-Viloria II would be at its highest.

Estrada hasn't wasted much time moving on to the next opponent, so it would be a surprise if an announcement on his next bout didn't come soon.

Stay tuned.

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For Nonito Donaire, the route to Canastota, N.Y. seemed simple. Sure, it's a long way from his native Philippines or even his current home in California, but that's where the International Boxing Hall of Fame resides, in all its shabby glory. And Donaire was well on his way.

Three divisions, three world championships.

Wins over some of the best in his weight range, including Vic Darchinyan and Jorge Arce.

Startling power for a man weighing just 122 pounds.

Donaire was a budding star on HBO, disproving the idea that a fighter can't be a drawing card if they aren't at least a lightweight. Knockout wins over Arce and Toshiaki Nishioka launched him to stardom. HBO was all-in and the future seemed bright.

And then a speed bump appeared on what had been a blissfully easy trip. Guillermo Rigondeaux was supposed to be an easy mark, a former Cuban amateur penciled in as Donaire's final victim at 122 pounds before moving up to new challenges at featherweight.

Instead, Rigondeaux was everything a swarming action fighter like Donaire hates. He was disciplined. He was stingy with his punches, throwing an average of just 33 a round. Worst of all, he was elusive, turning what promoters and Donaire hoped would be an exciting fight into a miasma of despair, sucking all of the energy out of the room with his incredibly effective yet incredibly desultory defensive style.

It was, in truth, just one loss, his first since splitting his first two fights at the turn of the century. A single blemish after more than a decade of fighting. And yet it seemed to erase the 30 wins that preceded it. Boxing is all about what just happened, not what happened in 2007 or 2011. With that metric in mind, there was only one word to describe Nonito Donaire:

Loser.

Harsh? Certainly.

Unfair? Amazingly.

True? That's where things get tricky.

Some fighters never really recover from their first significant loss. Boxing, like all combat sports, is a much more mental game than anyone imagines. The physical differences between fighters are often negligible. So too the training regiments and skill sets. A fight between two evenly matched men can often boil down to confidence and attitude.

Donaire had it. Whether he will emerge with it is an open question. In addition to the loss and feelings of inadequacy, another challenger has emerged to battle for the fighter's time and attention—a six-pound, 12-ounce boy named Jarel, who was born Tuesday after an eventful final month in the womb.

“I think it’s gonna motivate me to get that hunger back again,” Donaire told ABS News. “I am just very excited, so I think that’s gonna be something that’s gonna propel me into something bigger.”

Fatherhood can soften a man, remove the sharp edges you need to prepare body and mind to batter another human being—and to receive that kind of punishment in return. Donaire, who admitted being distracted by his wife's pregnancy leading up to the Rigondeaux fight, will have to go to the gym every day leading up to a potential return this fall or winter and try to take his mind away from his wife and newborn back home.

That's a lot to ask of a man who may not have boxing in his heart. Donaire is a reluctant warrior, pushed, he says, into battle by a domineering father:

And all my life I wanted to be recognized by my parents, especially my dad. I hated boxing and I hated fighting but I did it because I saw the attention my brother was getting.

His own growing family offers an excuse to quit. Will he take it sooner rather than later? Donaire claims the opposite is true, that the loss and birth of his son have reignited a passion for boxing.

"I'm not talking away anything from Rigondeaux, because he beat me clearly and fairly," Donaire told Ring Magazine. "But my mind wasn't really 100 percent on the fight. I honestly didn't care about it that much. Most of the time, I was thinking about my kid. But I am glad that he beat me. I was seriously considering retirement, but that loss woke me up and told me, 'Hey, I don't want to quit. I want to do this for a lot more years.'"

And then there's the matter of weight. Donaire was rumored for a return bout with Darchinyan but may be too heavy to return to 122 pounds. He told Boxing Scene he was walking around at over 140 pounds and might come back at featherweight instead, likely against Orlando Cruz. Darchinyan, who has sought a rematch for years, was not amused:

No matter what excuses [you make] about weight, I am still going to break you the way I made you. Do not use steroids, think about your future and your weight will be good. I remind you again – I made you, I will break you.

For Donaire, and the division that revolves around him even after his loss, everything remains up in the air. He has expressed interest in avenging his loss to Rigondeaux, telling The Manila Standard he wants that fight "more than anything." His promoter, Bob Arum, told Bleacher Report that HBO has no interest in that fight.

Whatever he decides is next, the boxing world will be waiting with bated breath. Despite the lack of a "magic zero," Donaire is still a star capable of creating interest. In boxing, those kinds of fighters are few and far between. That means, even if it takes him a little time to find his way, he'll have every chance to continue on the road to Canastota, leaving Rigondeaux, and any lingering doubts, in his rear-view mirror.

To appreciate Guillermo Rigondeaux is as much about acknowledging what he negates in his opponents as it is about marveling at his precise and explosive counter-punching ability. But in a sport that values furious exchanges and disproportionate acts of courage, Rigondeaux’s defensive acumen and savvy, to some, is perplexing and unappealing. 

In defeating former WBO junior featherweight champion Nonito Donaire—a top pound-for-pound fighter and three-division champion (excluding interim belts)—to unify 122-pound titles at New York’s Radio City Music Hall on Saturday, Rigondeaux (12-0, 8 KO) secured validation. Unanimous recognition as an elite fighter, however, doesn’t necessarily imply that Rigondeaux will secure big fights and suddenly become marketable. 

Against Donaire (31-2, 20 KO), Rigondeaux’s brilliance was evident in how he befuddled Donaire with deliberate movement, precise counters and aptly timed bursts of offense. Donaire, one of the sport’s most explosive offensive fighters, was reduced to plodding and confused chasing as he desperately searched for a homerun, fight-ending punch. 

But there was also something subtler at play. Rigondeaux had a complete game plan and executed it almost to perfection. While Rigondeaux did tag Donaire with overhand lefts, hooks with his lead right hand, body punches and deft counters, it was ultimately the threat of what Rigondeaux is capable of that froze Donaire. 

It would be too easy to focus on Rigondeaux’s inability to knock Donaire down or out. Even though Rigondeaux staggered Donaire in the opening round and landed big shots over the final two stanzas, cynics will highlight the fact that fight’s pace was lacking and that Donaire’s preparation was underwhelming. 

Realistically, Rigondeaux’s performance must be described as tactically brilliant, and it is fair to wonder whether he is on the verge of becoming the sport’s best defensive fighter. 

Out of respect and deference, Floyd Mayweather Jr. should retain this title until one can assess his next fight against Robert Guerrero. That said, given the way Rigondeaux befuddled Donaire, it is clear that the two-time Olympic gold medalist belongs in the discussion. 

If Donaire-Rigondeaux lacked drama, an analysis of the punch stats reveals the extent of Rigondeaux’s subtle dominance. 

To refer to a fighter’s performance as subtly dominant might seem oxymoronic, but the way Rigondeaux made Donaire, the 2012 Fighter of the Year, appear confused, tentative and inexperienced was stark. Donaire, after all, entered the fight having defeated Wilfredo Vazquez Jr., Jeffrey Mathebula, Toshiaki Nishioka and Jorge Arce in a remarkable 2012 campaign. 

Rigondeaux, somewhat understandably, was a significant underdog—pundits on RingTV, for instance, voted 18-3 in favor of Donaire winning—despite having shown flashes of defensive and overall brilliance against highly competent, though not elite, opposition.

Through 11 fights leading up to his unification clash against Donaire, Rigondeaux had hinted at his ability to thoroughly outbox an elite opponent. For instance, consider the punch stats from Rigondeaux’s unanimous decision victory over Robert Marroquin.  

In that fight, Rigondeaux held Marroquin to 54 landed blows out of 342 total punches thrown, which amounts to an astonishingly paltry connect percentage of 16. Marroquin only managed to land 41 of 206 power shots, and his per round averages were 4.5 connects out of 28.5 attempts. 

While Donaire was certainly more competent than Marroquin, the dip in his punch stats was noticeable and decisive. 

Coming into his fight against Rigondeaux, Donaire, over his past four fights, sported balanced punching averages that were still well below junior featherweight averages. Donaire averaged 45.8 total punches per round with 15.1 connects compared the division standard of 60.3 and 19.3 respectively. By throwing 23.5 jabs and 22.3 power punches per round, Donaire clearly had exhibited patience and control in a weight class where the average fighter throws 12.6 more power punches than jabs. 

What this ultimately reinforces is Donaire’s fight-ending power. While miniscule fighters often thrive on high punch volume, Donaire sits on his shots and picks his spots. 

Such was the case in his 12-round victory over Jeffrey Mathebula, as Donaire was out thrown by 404 punches and out-landed by 80 blows. And yet, Donaire landed the more purposeful shots, connecting on 102 power punches to Mathebula’s 91 while landing nine percent more of those bombs. 

The problem for Donaire is that Rigondeaux is also a patient and explosive counter-puncher, and perhaps a more effective one. 

Rigondeaux, on average, is even more contemplative than Donaire, averaging 40.3 punches per round and 11.3 connects. Balance is also essential for Rigondeaux as he averages 21.4 jabs per round to 18.9 power punches. Though not as statistically accurate as Donaire, the numbers suggest that their counter-punching tendencies have similar foundations. 

The most fascinating element of Donaire-Rigondeaux was that the fight would ultimately determine who could beat the other at his own game. That Rigondeaux thwarted Donaire’s offense so seamlessly is the true standard to which his performance should be held. To put it mildly, the drop in Donaire’s output was the difference. 

Donaire connected on only 82 of 352 punches for a connect percentage of 23. Donaire’s accuracy, overall, dipped by 10 percentage points against Rigondeaux, and his average of 6.8 landed blows out of 29 attempts per round were 8.3 and 16.8 fewer than his normal output heading into the fight, respectively. 

But perhaps the best evidence of Rigondeaux’s superiority was power punching. Donaire threw 38 more power shots (214 to 176) but landed nine fewer (64 to Rigondeaux’s 73). More telling was that Donaire’s accuracy dipped from a four-fight average of 47.4% to 30%, whereas Rigondeaux was right on point, landing 41% of his crosses, hooks and uppercuts. In fact, Rigondeaux out-punched Donaire, in terms of accuracy, by at least 10 points in every applicable category. 

If Rigondeaux is supposedly boring or a spoiler, why wasn’t Donaire able to overcome this and throw more, press the action and land anywhere near the ballpark of his standard averages? 

Words like “dominant,” “shocking” or “clinical” don’t adequately define Rigondeaux’s win over Donaire. Regardless of one’s personal scorecard, Rigondeaux must be acknowledged for what amounted to a comprehensive victory, excitement be damned.

 As Nonito Donaire was being reduced by Guillermo Rigondeaux to haplessly swinging at the air like a drunkard swatting at angry bees, something occurred to me: I wasn’t just anxious for action; I was bored out of my mind.

 I can respect a defensive wizard at work. I’ve watched Bernard Hopkins for years dismantle his foes using intellect and agility. Ditto Floyd Mayweather. Pernell Whitaker became the stuff of legend as he used his hips to frustrate opponents as they whirled empty bombs at what was no longer there. It’s an amazing talent to have. We can place these fighters amongst the all-time greats and compare them to the Willy Peps of boxing lore. We have that right as fans and writers. We also have the right to snuggle up with our favorite blanket and take a nice snooze while they ply their craft.

Saturday night at Radio City Music Hall, the tension and excitement filling the air as the fight began was palpable. As the fight wore on, and Rigondeaux continued to dodge, dip, dive and duck the attack from Donaire, all while offering little or nothing in return, the air left the room. It was replaced by boredom and then finally anger. The chorus of boos that rained down on the ring from the sixth round on was a loud expression of frustration. That will happen when you pay excellent money for a boxing match and instead get a samba.

Rigondeaux is a freakish talent. His agility and reflexes are incredible. Donaire has wrecked and embarrassed opponents for years with his combination of speed, accuracy, and power. On this night, he was continually confused and frustrated by the Cuban’s movement. Even when he finally caught the two-time gold medalist, he could do nothing to keep up the momentum. Rigondeaux simply got up off the canvas, smirked, and started over.

Possibly the most maddening thing about the fight was the fact that Rigondeaux was landing hard, jarring punches whenever he bothered to throw. The crowd was begging for more. Had he pressed the gas, he may very well have stopped Donaire. Of course, he’d also open himself up again, something he flat out refused to do. Instead, he was completely comfortable with cruising to a decision victory that was much closer than it should have been. Had Rigondeaux thrown even a smattering of punches, he’d have won by a huge margin. He didn’t.

In his defense, he would have KO’d 99.9 percent of fighters anywhere near 122 pounds Saturday. But the fact that he busted up Donaire and embarrassed him on several occasions, without attempting anything but the bare minimum offensively is the most frustrating thing - He could have put up a legendary performance. Dominating and stopping the most dominant fighter in the division brings you to the next level. Dominating with defense, as technically brilliant as it is to behold, does not.

In fact, Rigondeaux might be worse off now than ever. Who the hell wants to fight him? He’s a hard puncher, damn near impossible to hit, and brings absolutely nothing financially to the table. Worse, he seems more than content to bore the pants off of anyone who watches him.

For his part, Donaire never stopped trying for the knockout. His problem? He never stopped trying for the knockout. The home run shots that always do the trick for him weren’t landing, and he showed absolutely zero willingness to try something else. Was he distracted? Was he training as hard as he should have been? Or did he finally run into a foe who had the skill to beat him? Probably it was a combination of all three.

As fight fans, we thirst for blood. We want our warriors to be just that - reckless bangers who scoff at the notion of defense in favor of pure violence. Brandon Rios is beloved for that reason, as was Arturo Gatti. We can appreciate the subtleties of the sweet science, but we don’t have to love the view.

Rigondeaux was quoted as saying that he was the matador Saturday night, and that people don’t like the matador. That isn’t true - people are okay with a matador - as long as he hits the bull back.

Nonito Donaire entered his bout against Guillermo Rigondeaux as one of the hottest boxers—seemingly capable of dominating whoever tried to stand in his way.

Having won his past 30 fights and being crowned the 2012 Fighter of the Year, Donaire had reason to have such confidence. His dazzling skills and raw power had made him the most complete boxer in the world in the Super Bantamweight division and arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Yet, when he came up against the talented Rigondeaux, The Filipino Flash was nothing other than a disappointment—losing in a unanimous points decision.

The undefeated Cuban (12-0, 8 KO) showed patience and consistency as he broke down the flashy Donaire. He was patient, and he was tactical—waiting for his opponent to come at him and make mistakes, and then capitalizing on the opportunities presented for him.

And whilst it was only one loss, it was a very disappointing showing from Donaire, who appeared less determined than his opponent throughout the fight.

Maybe he was just frustrated with the lack of chances he had to knock down Rigondeaux; maybe there was something else that was bothering him. 

But either way, Donaire was a distant second in terms of class, patience and talent on the night to Rigondeaux, and he showed that he still has a long way to go in his claims to be the best.

"Donaire's an excellent fighter but you cannot win a fight with one shot", said Rigondeaux after the fight (via Jon Saraceno, USA Today), and his assessment of Donaire couldn't have been more correct.

For it's one thing to have a flashy style built around big hits and clean strikes, but when he came up against an opponent that had a more conservative game, and one that looks to work the body, Donaire was shown to have no comeback.

The judges might have found 113, 112 and 111 points for Donaire, respectively, but the reality was that Donaire was simply outclassed here.

He did not have an answer to Rigondeaux's discipline and consistency.

Without a style that can adapt to different fighters, Donaire will not go as far as many were projecting when his streak was in tact and the accolades were flowing in. 

Moreover, without the wisdom to accept that different fighters will require different tactics, Donaire won't get anywhere near to where he'd like to be—being crowned the best of them all.

For perhaps the most alarming issue on the night for Donaire was that of his brashness—stating after the fight that he didn't even study for the fight. 

Which for an HBO-televised fight, and one against a two-time Olympic champion nonetheless, suggests that the star fighter has some serious weaknesses in his game.

There is little doubting that Donaire has the skill set to become a genuine talent, perhaps even the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. But until he can learn to adapt his game—mostly his mental toughness and discipline—he will struggle to make the jump across from "great" to "elite."

Donaire simply tried to mail it in Saturday night, and it showed.

Regardless of whether he'd won one or 30 fights coming into the night, you just can't pull that against good fighters and expect to emerge victorious.

The Filipino Flash had said prior to the fight (per Jon Saraceno, USA Today) that this fight was "going to (come down to) who is the smartest guy in the ring and who has the biggest heart.'' If only he'd listened to his own words, as a 12-year streak came to an abrupt and largely disappointing end at Radio Music City Hall.

2012 must already seem like such a long time ago for Nonito Donaire.

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It wasn't easy, but Guillermo Rigondeaux took a huge step in his quest to become a star with a win over Nonito Donaire by unanimous decision.

Rigondeaux came out on top according to all three scorecards; 114-113; 115-112 and 116-111 (h/t Wall Street Journal).

When it was announced that these two great champions were set to meet, the boxing community knew it could be a special matchup. It didn't disappoint.

Donaire came in as the slight favorite. Having won 30 consecutive fights, he was on the precipice of claiming a spot among the sport's top pound-for-pound fighters.

Instead, Rigondeaux established himself as a serious threat early on and used elite hand speed and footwork to consistently outpoint Donaire. Once he proved that these two were at least on equal footing, the action really started to pick up.

While Rigondeaux was able to frustrate Donaire with his ability to circle away from his power shots and land clean combinations, it was only a matter of time before Donaire landed something clean. It happened in the 10th round when Donaire sent his opponent to the canvas. It wouldn't be enough. The fight would settle right back into Rigondeaux's favor in the final two rounds.

As with any high-profile fight that goes to decision, this is one that fans are sure to debate for quite some time. Ultimately, Donaire didn't press the issue enough to earn the victory.

This was a close fight, but Rigondeaux has to be given the credit for fighting his fight and dictating the pace and distance throughout. Donaire had his moments, but this was a huge victory for Rigondeaux. Both fighters are impressive champions with quality records. Fans certainly wouldn't object to watching these two go at it at least one more time.

Nonito Donaire's excellence against top-notch competition deserves high praise.

After being awarded the 2012 Fighter of the Year by several publications (Ring Magazine and Boxing Scene to name two), Donaire would have to be considered the best fighter in the world if he beats Guillermo Rigondeaux on Saturday night.

Donaire is 31-0 with 20 KO. He hasn't lost since 2001 in his second professional fight.

Despite Riognodeaux's modest professional record (11-0, 8 KO) he represents the biggest challenge Donaire will have faced in his career.

El Chacal's combination of speed, quickness, fundamentals, amateur pedigree and defensive style will test Donaire in ways he's never been tested. As much as I love Donaire, I predict Rigondeaux will win a decision over him.

That same seed of doubt is present in the minds of others that fashion themselves as boxing aficionados. 

Christopher Wirsing of FightSaga.com favors Rigondeaux in this bout. He said:

If it goes twelve rounds and there is not a lot of activity, Donaire may win a decision. But I think his style will play right into the hands of Rigondeaux so I am leaning towards Rigondeaux in this one.

Of the 12 writers from BoxingScene.com that offered predictions, four also believe Rigondeaux will win. Even though Donaire fights the best fighters available to him, his amazing blend of speed and power genuinely makes him the favorite in most of his fights.

The fact that a good number of writers are picking Rigondeaux is an acknowledgment of the Cuban's skill.

This is why a Donaire win would be so impressive. It is also why I believe a victory should make him the pound-for-pound champion.

Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is undefeated and one of the greatest of all-time. But the pound-for-pound championship is about recent fights and Mayweather hasn't fought since May 2012.

Since Mayweather's last fight, Donaire has defeated Jeffrey Mathebula, Toshiaki Nishioka and Jorge Arce. All three of those men were current or former champions when Donaire defeated them.

If Donaire defeats Rigondeaux in the super bantamweight unification bout, that would be four-straight current or former champions Donaire has defeated during Mayweather's inactivity.

Obviously, Mayweather is set to battle Robert Guerrero on May 4. An impressive win over Guerrero would likely solidify Mayweather's status as the world's best.

But in the meantime, if Donaire defeats Rigondeaux, there won't be a better fighter in any weight class in my eyes.

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Nonito Donaire is a household name in the boxing world. His challenger, Guillermo Rigondeaux, is attempting to make that leap by defeating the WBO super bantamweight champion on Saturday night at Radio City Music Hall.

A loss Saturday night wouldn’t maul the nearly flawless career of The Filipino Flash as much as it would elevate Rigondeaux to superstardom.

While you may not know everything there is to know about the challenger, there is plenty for the 2012 fighter of the year to be worried about in this understated title bout.

The 32-year-old Cuban, known as The Jackal, is the WBA super bantamweight champion and boasts an 11-0 professional record, including eight KOs (h/t BoxRec). He also won two Gold medals at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics. He claims an amateur boxing record of nearly 400 fights with just 12 losses, according to HBO.com.

Legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach labeled Rigondeaux as “the greatest talent he has ever seen” (h/t HBO.com).

Does The Filipino Flash have anything to worry about? We’ll take a look at some things he must accomplish in order to continue to build on his strong 2012 performance and avoid being unseated by his accomplished veteran opponent.

Come with Power

Donaire’s striking power is well-known throughout the super bantamweight division. That power-punch ability has led to him sitting down 20 of his 32 opponents by way of knockout.

He’s going to need to pick and choose his spots but find openings to land those punches. It will keep his southpaw opponent reeling

Speed Wins the Race

To get the better of his Olympic champion opponent, The Filipino Flash is going to have to live up to his moniker. The Jackal is a tough technician who can evade and defend against the quickest strikers the sport has thrown his way.

Donaire must use effective and timely combinations to penetrate Rigondeaux’s tough defense and land his powerful punches. Speed and power are what have gotten him to this point, and he must bring the fire in both areas to continue his dominant run.

Don’t Get Too Aggressive

As strong and quick as Donaire is, Rigondeaux is nearly his equal. Getting into poor position in order to land his own flurries could gradually open up windows for his challenger to exploit. If anyone can find a weakness in Donaire’s defense in those moments, it’s The Jackal.

Rigondeaux is capable of making his opponent pay for miscalculations. That’s a fact that Donaire can’t ignore when looking for entry points in his Cuban opponent’s defenses.

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If Nonito Donaire isn't impressed with Guillermo Rigondeaux yet, I'm willing to bet he soon will be. Donaire scoffed at the notion that Rigondeaux's 400-plus amateur fights make up for his limited professional career.

Per Alexis Terrazas of the San Francisco Examiner, Donaire said:

There’s nothing out there like being in the pro game, I’ve known guys with 600 fights in the amateurs and not make it in the professional level. But he is talented, he is a champion ... again, that inexperience is just gonna give him chills, and he’s gonna to doubt himself. That’s what inexperienced fighters do.

Even though I'm sure Donaire has watched video of Rigondeaux and seen the obvious skills El Chacal possesses, it sounds as if he's still hung up on his record. He discusses the issue a bit more here in this video:

This could ultimately be very dangerous for him.

When you look at Rigondeaux fight, the last label that should come to your mind is inexperienced. The 32-year-old fights with excellent poise, balance and remarkable boxing fundamentals.

I'm not taking anything away from Donaire. He is one of the three best fighters in the world, but I can't help but feel as though he isn't giving Rigondeaux his due.

The early rounds of this fight should be very telling. Donaire is naturally aggressive and based on his desire to please and make a statement, he'll probably come out looking to prove he is superior early on.

If he is able to rock Rigondeaux with one of his signature left hooks, he could be well on his way to an impressive victory. If he has trouble finding his target early—which is what I predict—this will be a classic bout in which Donaire will have to dig deep to win.

Rigondeaux is very crafty defensively and he's an excellent counterpuncher—especially to the body. He has long arms that allow him to be effective from distance.

Donaire has never faced a fighter like him, and I think that is the point he's missing—at least, that's the impression he's giving. Perhaps he is just trying to come off a bit dismissive as part of some sort of gamesmanship, but I don't think that is the case.

I tentatively predicted Rigondeaux would win this fight by decision, and I'm sticking to that. Donaire's disrespect for his opponent's experience makes me a little more confident.

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