i don't know whether to be impressed or disappointed with Donaire.

You can be disappointed. First of all though, calling Darc shot to **** is stupid, but every kid is calling almost all fighters shot to **** anyway, so i guess it fits in with the new fad. Darc came in looking fantastic, totally conditioned and with an fully-baked gameplan.

However, Donaire completely disappointed in providing for what an elite level fighter like himself should have provided. He did NOT show heart, and he also did NOT show any offence. He showed lack of heart cause he was clearly questioning himself when he was behind. His offence was also non-existent. I saw no coming forward when counter-punching wasnt working, and if he didnt want to come forward because of the power, then he should have sat back and popped out accurate jabs, but he didnt. All in all, his timing and skills were off and he showed that he questions himself when he is behind (ala Zab Judah). His peak is probably over, and my guess is that he wont have much time left at the top, where he just about remains after round 8.

 

Outside of Rigondeaux, Darchinyan is the toughest opponent that Donaire has faced, since he fought... well since he fought Darchinyan. Many Donaire fans have been led astray by his careful match making over the last few years. Donaire has literally avoided all of the best opposition. He didn't get in the bantam tourney. He didn't fight Moreno either. Moreno, Mares, Agbeko, Perez, and Darchinyan, are better than anybody that Donaire has faced besides Rigondeaux. He was matched with chump after chump. Darchinyan would have beaten all of those other guys also, except for Rigondeaux. When you have a guy fighting midgets, retirees, and alphabet paper contenders, you get what you have with Donaire. He gets over rated, and his skills atrophy because he is fighting lower level opposition. Hell, he looked bad against Mathebula, Nishioka, and Narvaez, prior to getting whooped by Rigondeaux. And who wouldn't look good against come forward limited midget Mexicans, like Montiel, and Arce?