By Derek Bonnett. Going into
his 122-pound WBO/IBF title bout with Toshiaki Nishioka, Nonito Donaire
carried a twenty-eight fight win-streak and a lofty pound for pound
standing. However, since 2011 the three-division world champion, 29, had
been heavily criticized his failure to stop Omar Andres Narvaez,
Wilfredo Vazquez Jr., and Jeffrey Mathebula. Questionable scoring aside,
Donaire clearly vanquished three legitimate world class foes. He handed
Narvaez, a defensive wizard, his first professional loss and dropped
Vazquez and Mathebula, both naturally larger career super bantamweights.
There are some who had already found fault in the selection of
Nishioka, a seasoned professional who vacated his WBC super bantamweight
title after seven defenses against names like Jhonny Gonzalez, Rendall
Munroe, and Rafael Marquez. The October 13 world championship bout at
the Home Depot Center in Carson, California, USA deserved more of a
build-up instead of being treated as a side dish to the more
fan-pleasing match-up on paper between Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado.
However, to some, it might have seemed as if Nishioka traveled from
Japan to the USA and had his balls held up in customs. The same error in
judgment was heaped upon Narvaez. What is more to the truth is that,
yet again, Donaire completely shut down the offense of a seasoned
professional at the top of his division and made it look easy.
Donaire’s impact on Nishioka was immediate as the intimidated former
champion barely threw a punch in the opening frame. Donaire returned to
stricter boxing and controlled the tempo of the contest without an
overzealous hunt for the KO. Using speed and a well timed right hand off
the jab, Donaire controlled the first four frames without an iota of
resistance. He went up 40-36 on my SecondsOut card.
Donaire began utilizing his legs more in the fifth as he started
darting in and out with greater frequency. His attack moved to the body
with finishing touches to the dome of his counterpart. In the sixth
round Donaire out-landed Nishioka 31 to 7 in power-shots. One of those
shots, a perfectly placed left uppercut deposited Nishioka on the canvas
for the fourth time of his career. Nishioka fell behind 53-60 on
SecondsOut’s tally.
Donaire boxed with greater confidence than we have seen since moving
up to 122-pounds. Although most of his criticism was unwarranted, the
Donaire seen in Carson tonight was far superior to any version seen
since he dispatched Fernando Montiel as a bantamweight. The gap in
power-shots grew to 124 against 45 by the close of the eight round.
Donaire’s big finish came at 1:54 of round number nine after he
connected with a straight right hand counter. Nishioka hit the canvas
and rose on unsteady legs. Just as referee Raul Caiz Sr. waved the two
combatants together, Nishioka’s team felt they had seen enough and
surrendered. Donaire ran his win-streak to twenty-nine, not having lost
since his second pro bout, and raised his ledger to 30-1 (19). Nishioka
saw an eight year unbeaten streak snapped and fell to 39-5-3 (24).
Donaire honored his vanquished opponent respectfully. Upon being
asked about a possible clash with Guillermo Rigondeaux by Max Kellerman,
Donaire acknowledged it was a fight many wanted, but that Rigondeaux
needed to further prove himself in order to get Donaire motivated for
that clash.
For further boxing discussion, contact Derek DBO Bonnett on Facebook or at
mabfan@comcast.net.
SecondsOut.com to Doghouse Boxing.
