Zarate was an absolute beast. He was a nasty Tito-esque puncher and an incredibly skilled technician. What he did to competent technicians in Davila and Martinez was frightful, and the Zamora fight was a beastly showing vs a monster at the weight. You don't go 52-0 with 51 KOs without being good at everything and an absolute animal. Technique wise, he was one of the best 'proper' punchers I've ever seen. He was just got perfect form on his shots, and was excellent at parrying and slipping shots, and as far as ring-cutting goes, you don't have to look much further than Zarate to find a perfect example. The only real issue he has is that his chin isn't unbreakable. Even as good as Gomez was, he shouldn't have had it that easy. Donaire is one of the best athletes ever at the lower weights. Massive at the weight, ridiculously fast hands, colossal power, very well coordinated with a great chin and bags of stamina. His ability and dexterity on his feet were massively underrated aspects of his game. He thrived, primarily, vs three types of fighters. He loves off-beat, rhythmless sluggers who amble in and look to overwhelm you either power, strength or workrate (like Darchinyan); hyper aggressive swarmers who look to get inside or underneath and suffocate you with pressure (like maybe Arce, definitely like Oubaali); and the steadily aggressive boxer-punchers who fight coming forward, working behind the jab and normally somewhat upright (like Inoue, Sydorenko or Montiel). Zarate fits that third mold, and I think that's the one Donaire's best suited for. It's easier to time someone with a steadier rhythm, and easier to find someone who doesn't fight to remove your space. I think he'd be able to maybe spin off and set up a left hook; either by splitting a jab or tripwiring a cross. Definitely a possiblity. So Donaire isn't without chance, because he could find Zarate's chin and lay him out, but I think he'd lose a decision or get hurt late.
Best fights to watch are: Orlando Amores Rodolfo Martinez Paul Ferreri Alberto Davila Alfonso Zamora Wilfredo Gomez (loss) Lupe Pintor (loss, but a very polarising decision)
Thanks for that...I'll have a watch. Can't back either til I've seen enough of both but if a bookie took bets on it as always I'd rife with Donaire regardless of who I think would win...guys won me too much money over the years lol
This content is protected This is my favourite Zarate KO. Like a drunk emptying ashtrays out his back door. Pop!, Pop! Casual and beautiful. Goodnight and, Good luck. Loses the first two from memory. Then, Pop! All over.
I was just playing on your words. What a massive compliment to Donaire that he gets talked about in these matchups as one of their peers.
Zarate was the consummate boxer with A plus power. The only negative is that he was a bit stiff in the upper body. Definitely favor him over Donaire.
I liked his upper-body movement. For a tall guy, it was actually quite good. Not Vitali Klitschko-esque where it consisted of nothing but leaning back and hoping you didn't get hit. He was excellent at swaying left and right before he threw, while remaining on balance. A lot of his mannerisms remind me of Arguello.
