Orlando Canizales vs Current Bantamweights

This post is sheer class. Good points on the Thai, who remains underappreciated.

Obviously, Khaokor>>>All mentioned :hey

 

I like Khaokor too, he was another excellent fighter, if only for a short time. You rate him a fair bit higher h2h than Khaosai don't you Moe? Not surprising really, he was a more talented and trickier package when all is said and done and translated his Muay Thai stylings very well. I was surprised (and yet not surprised at all) upon looking in the controversial statements thread to see people picking Donaire over him and Moon with so much conviction, especially with Donaire still being active with something to prove. He has that air of potential greatness about him, but he's still a bit too untested in my book to be favoured so much against men like those two when he hasn't yet faced anything like them in terms of style, toughness or quality, regardless of the demolition jobs on Vic, Sydorenko and Montiel. Moon or Galaxy they definitely are not, not by a long way. I might go into more depth about this later on if anyone presents an interesting counter-argument. Donaire decisively handling someone like Nishioka would open my eyes a bit. Maybe even Perez to a quite lesser extent, just to prove that he can handle a fairly competent orthodox swarmer. Gonzalez would an interesting one if he wasn't made of glass. Hasegawa? Gamboa? Basically anyone who doesn't stand at mid-range with no defence while he tees off on them, though I don't see too many of that type around tbh. It wouldn't actually surprise me if Donaire retires with a similarish legacy to Canizales himself. A great looking fighter skillwise who never had the chance to prove it beyond all reproach, though he'll have to work hard and remain very active for a long time to achieve even that.

On a slightly different note, ignoring the more famous Galaxy's weak opposition, I've come to very much like and rate most of the top Muay Thai/western style transitionalists: the Galaxies, Chitalada, Payakaroon, Sahaprom, Muangsurin etc. Payakaroon in particular looks to have been an amazing talent at his peak. Interesting life too that might make a good book.

 

Same here: Payakaroon was the most purely talented Thai fighter I've seen.

And, as always, an engrossing read with some points I agree with. Mainly, on Donaires credentials thus far.

I reckon Khaokor would turn him all night, and both he and Moon have the chin to actually get something going against Nonito. As per Galaxy: 2x shut outs against Moon and Vasquez are proof to me that the lesser heralded Galaxy Bro' was a very serious operator indeed. Indeed, he Vs Canizales would be an intriguing matchup.