Nordine Oubaali vs. Nonito Gonzales Donaire Jr. & Subriel Matías vs. Batyrzhan Jukembayev RBR.

Maybe, if he didn't go through that bad four year patch. In 2012 it looked like he was the second coming of Pacquiao p4p#1 and the best fighter of the 2010s. Then he lost to Rigondeaux, got ktfo by Walters and has been struggling ever since. He lost all of his star power in those two fights. All of that career momentum, what was it 14 title fight victories and five weight classes? He lost to Magdaleno, then Frampton. He's only really turned things around since late 2018. 2013 to 2017 he was completely stalled out.

To be the biggest star in boxing, he'd have needed to rematch Rigondeaux, fought Yamanaka, Santa Cruz, maybe a young Lomachenko at feather. The point is you can't be a big name with a four year rough patch like that on your record.

We could probably say the same thing about Chocolatito. Everyone wrote him off after one bad loss in 2017 after four weight classes and sixteen title fight victories. But he came storming back in 2020.

 

Finally got a chance to watch this. Donaire totally outclassed Oubaali! What a great performance by the 38yr old. Distancing was really good and good shot variation in terms of power and punch selection. That single shot left hook knockdown was a thing of beauty! Walk off knockdowns are such a flex. Humble in victory too, good stuff Nonito. Going to watch it again.