This is just about set to be Donaire's first defense of the WBO super bantamweight title. Gradovich, the former IBF champion at featherweight, has never fought below FW and last campaigned up at super feather - but he will have a stopgap tuneup on January ninth at 126lb serving to help gradually pressurize his drop in weight to uncharted waters. High contrast of styles here, with Donaire the quick and dynamite fisted counter-puncher and Gradovich the basic yet relentless high-volume grinder. They should on paper make for a fun blend. Difficult to pick with confidence. Donaire is by far the more naturally gifted man, and the more well-schooled technically. Gradovich is considerably larger, and has that indomitable will to compensate for tangible disadvantages. Recent form is no help. Donaire was less than his vintage self in capturing the vacant WBO belt against César Juárez. Donaire was expected to dominate and stop Juárez, but stumbled through it and took a decision in a competitive affair (I scored it a draw). Gradovich however, for his part, only managed to squeak by professional loser Aldimar Santos by SD in his comeback outing after dropping his FW belt to Lee Selby. Both, then, are coming off subpar efforts and need to prove something here.
Gradovich, with his height and pressure, will give Donaire plenty to handle, but i suppose the difference in talent will be the dividing factor. Donaire UD.
Yeah, this smacks of Evgeny's face getting sliced and diced well inside schedule to me. Possibly a TD for Donaire, or cuts TKO.
I'm a fan of Robert Garcia but his fighters have chronic issues making weight. I can't see Evgeny make the weight comfortably. Gradovic didn't take Selby power very well and I think that Donaire should be able to get him out of there by the mid rounds.
Selby did manage to develop some respectable pop midway into his career, to be fair (sort of like Hasegawa) - and while he is no feather-fist I don't think Donaire's power has withstood his ups and downs in weight perfectly intact, and didn't really carry to FW.
