Donaire and Top Rank resolve difficulties: Nonito's coming back!

I take it we all know the score for the most part, after doing this to Fernando Montiel:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV5EGdgbkLQ&feature=related[/ame]


Nonito Donaire, coming off a career best victory/performance, in which he obliterated a consensus Pound for Pound top ten fighter in a mere two rounds thanks to a left hook of monumental proportions, attempted to flee from his Top Rank deal, and jump ship to Golden Boy. Donaire felt a move to Golden Boy would further enhance his career but Uncle Bob took the matter to court, where it was ruled that Top Rank’s current contract was still binding, thus preventing Golden Boy from doing any business with the Filipino. There's been pretty much rampant speculation for months on end, but it's finally been confirmed that he's officially with Top Rank for the long haul, and is ready to come back.

The Bobfather has to my knowledge mentioned three possible opponents for Nonito's return: Guillermo Rigondeaux, Anselmo Moreno and Jorge Arce. I'd imagine the Rigo fight's a no-go, as the Cuban's back in August and will in all probability get a fight with Rico Ramos after that, where he'd get his own slice of the alphabet pie at 122. A chance of de-throning a relatively weak champion while also gaining a bargaining chip for the future is probably more appealing than just jumping straight back in with a fighter of Donaire's caliber.

Moreno would quite possibly be one of the most one-sided beatings of the year if it were to come off, and it's something I'd consider ideal for Nonito. Moreno is one of the more overrated guys in the sport, being one of the most predictable fighters at world-level. Of course, a stumbling block will be the fact that Anselmo has by all accounts shown minimal dedication lately, and may prefer the option of sitting on his title while dining out on weak opposition, as opposed to getting annihilated fairly handily by The Flash.

An Arce fight would be awful were it to happen, and I'd vehemently protest against it. The fact that Vazquez Jr fought pretty idiotically and took the fight for granted(it seems, he was without doubt complacent) greatly aided Jorge in winning his title at super-bantam. But, the ability to win in brawls aside, Arce's well past it, and he will get well and truely mullered by Donaire were it to happen. Though I fear it may be the most likely, as a way of easing Nonito into the division, while gaining him a strap at the same time. Jorge will be looking for an opponent, as the proposed double header of Puerto Rico-Mexico rematches fell through(the other being Juanma-Salido) for October/November, and it's a way of Arum keeping relations 'in-house'. Hopefully that won't be the case.

To be frank though, as much as I'd be against one of that triplet happening(and kind of against any kind of ascent in weight for the moment really), I'll just be glad to see him back in the ring. It seems every time, well, it is the case that on every occasion he's scored a massive victory he's career has stalled to an extraordinarily frustrating degree, but I suspect this won't be the case any longer. Or perhaps I'm being idealistic?

Anyways, thoughts? Don't know about the rest of you, but I'm all for Moreno getting blasted.

 

Also, on the subject over Donaire, I think in a few years people will look back over this victory over Moruti Mthalane and realise how underrated it has been by the vast majority:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkE7XzMsU5o&feature=related[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLVjiklWiN0&feature=related[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py12QHWC9Yk&feature=related[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elbHT0WJqcU&feature=related[/ame]

 

It was a sensational win in general. The perfect way to deal with Montiel. KO-Chul is one of the smarter fighters in the sport, so adept at setting traps, but Donaire didn't allow him at even begin to plan one, there was a variety to his work, which prevented the kind of predictability that Montiel thrives on, and most importantly, he kept Fernando off-balance constantly, and continuously off-set him. Watch Montiel as early as the 1st round, there's about 40-odd seconds left, and he bangs his gloves together in frustation, because he just can't get anything going in the slightest.

:nono

Agbeko's beating Mares. The Ring belt won't be on the line should a Moreno fight come to fruition, as far as I know Moreno's ranked 3rd, and Agbeko's second, so when Agbeko beats Mares and fights Donaire it'll be for The Ring belt. I prey the Moreno fight comes off, I want this ''Moreno's one of the most underrated guys out there'' myth to die a quick death.

Agreed. The fights are out there, he's just gotta make 'em happen.

 

I know I preach it without fail, but light-fly to super-bantam(not so much straw since Chocolatito left, but with Calderon dropping down it might attract attention, plus Joyi is an excellent fighter who can dominate that division, while having the frame to rise through them too) have the best fights in the sport for the most part, and I hate the fact that just because they aren't talked about in the mainstream of the sport means that people don't care seriously frustrates me.

 

One simple reason: Mares' feet.

Well, footwork, to use a term that makes me sound less creepy. Watch Mares' most recent fights, and his stance in particular. He's always advancing(or, at least he is for the most part), yet he positions his feet in such a way that it's the way someone boxing from the outside would, he stands like a counter-puncher yet comes forward relentlessly. Agbeko's got the kind of movement to exploit that, he's relatively useful at side-stepping his opponent and Mares is made for that. He's also wide open for the lead right hand, which happens to be the best shot in King Kong's arsenal.

For me, Joseph's going to out-maneuver him, circle him, step to the side of Mares and find a home for his right hooks downstairs and up top, all the while send some lead right hands crashing through the guard. Abner's workrate will allow him some success early, but ultimitely I see Agbeko taking over from around the 5th-6th onwards and grinding Mares down for a decision.

 

I know I overuse the comparison(to those of you who pay any attention to my posts on the lower weights:verysad), but that's only because I think it's relevant, Moreno's what Chris John was a few years ago, labelled 'he's best fighter you don't know' to such an extent that people that had never even seen him fight called him one of, if not the most, underrated in the sport. Don't buy it in the slightest, he's good and all, but he's not at the level of the guys at the top of the division. I think he's flattered by his wins over what I consider to be a past-prime Sydorenko, Volodymyr wasn't as good then as he was say, in his fights against Poonsawat and Mastrito.

He's hailed as a kind of supreme talent with great slickness, for me he's about as basic as they come for the most part. He'll throw a straight left, which normally lands, and he'll then duck to the left, usually avoiding his opponent's shot in retaliation. However, what he does not do is make an attempt to avoid the shots that follow the failed attempt, there's not much point in dodging the first shot when you get caught by the second, third, etc. He'll drop to the left and seems to assume that that's all that is neccessary for him to do.

He's also extremely predictable with his lack of variation. Uppercuts would help him, seeing as he usually has a height and reach advantage. When he throws a series of powerless jabs in succession, you know the straight will follow. It's just a matter of how many times he'll paw at you before he unleashes the left. If he were to implement some power behind his jab at times I think it could greatly help him, he doesn't slow his opponents down enough IMO and has to constantly try to keep them off him throughout the fight, rarely getting any respite, which wont help him against top guys.