Nonito Donaire vs Vic Darchinyan II: Donaire escapes via 9th round TKO ( but will need a ton of a heart to beat Rigondeaux in a rematch)

Down by 4 points on two of the three judge’s scoresheets with only  two rounds remaining in a 10 round-non-title fight; implored by his cornermen to throw more punches,the 30 year old  Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire,   finally  connected with his vaunted left-hook midway into the 9^th round sending Vic ”The Raging Bull” Darchinyan down hard on the mat. The Armenian-born Australian former multi-division titlist, was able to beat the count but was in wobbly legs.  A series of powerful punches by “The Filipino Flash” had the badly-hurt  “Raging Bull” staggering at a corner where he was at the receiving end of  more serious battering  before  the referee wisely  called a halt to the fight. 

I had the fight even going into the fateful  9th round but I do not question the 2  judges who had Darchinyan ahead by 4 points after eight rounds. The fight was close; a technical and tactical fight with the more aggressive Aussie seems to be connecting with the more telling blows especially near the end of the 5^th round when he clearly hurt Donaire,  sending him in trouble at the ropes; fortunately for Donaire the round ended before the power-punching Darchinyan could inflict more damage. 

Coming after a one-sided  unanimous decision  lost to Cuban master-boxer Guillermo Rigondeaux last April, where   the previous year’s Boxing Writer Association Of America (BWAA) boxer of the year awardee was sent crashing  back to the ground by way of  a neat boxing clinic, I was intent in observing  how Donaire would fight against a 37 year old  opponent though he already TKOed  seven years before( whereby,  jumpstarting his pound-for-pound career),  is still   formidable  and is still  a very dangerous challenge. (Especially with vengeance in Darchinyan’s mind.)

Photos (from boxingscene.com) 

Donaire stated in the press releases before the fight  that he will look for a knockout,but after the Rigondeux setback, I was expecting him to showcase more of his boxing skills— using his height and  reach advantages by constantly jabbing, using combinations,  utilizing his quickness and  movements, especially side to side; and to demonstrate an improved defense.

But alas, what I saw was the same Nonito Donaire who showed up against Rigondeux. He doesn’t seem to be well-motivated. He was (again)  overly cautious, was not busy enough,  was getting tagged often, and was  out boxed in some of the exchanges  by an opponent who is not a slick boxer but  more  of an awkward slugger.

During the post-fight interview, Donaire gave  a glimpse of  his inner psyche; something I have long suspected or thought of-- He doesn’t have   a big-heart or the tenacity needed to fulfill whatever potential he really has in boxing . After he got hit, he said,   “I felt like he broke my cheek. Is this it for me? Is this it for me? ” He was doubting himself and was already contemplating on losing;  although, he concluded, he is not a quitter and got the job done.

Just like in the Rigondeux fight,  he became  overly cautious and  hesitant , was thrown-off his rhythm, and lapsed  into periods of  seemingly ‘carefree’  inactivity (  this despite the egging of his cornermen to do more) after he got tagged or  hurt in the early exchanges.  More than looking for a one-punch KO,  his inactivity is really about taking less chances or a lack of  confidence to fully engage an opponent who can fire back;  because he is more concerned  of not getting hurt or hit-- rather than effecting  his  game plane. This  allowed  Darchinyan to dictate the tempo of  fight.

I saw this tendency of  Donaire to slack early in   2009 against Panamanian Rafael Concepcion who although he beat in a competitive decision, gave him a lot of unexpected  troubles. Faced against a slick boxer like 2- time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeux, Donaire was lost. He got tagged early in that fight and instead of banging both his gloves ( ala Pacquiao), he retreated; under the pretense of looking for a one punch KO. The truth (may be)is , he is  aware  that he’s  staring at someone he knows will out box  him or beat him to the punch; but rather than  showing tenacity (a hallmark of a great boxer), he folded-up instead. The 10^th round flash knockdown he scored was the  saving grace but even that is negligible as he was out boxed again after; and in  the 12^th round he was in survival mode from the supposedly light-punching Cuban.  

After the fight with Darchinyan, he stated that he wants a rematch with Rigondeux. I doubt it if he really means it. This may be  just for bravado; needed to enhance more his credibility and marketability.

But assuming he is sincere and the fight happens sooner, can he beat Rigondeux? Of course he can. With a killer-left  he possesses, there is always the possibility he can hurt and knockout Rigondeux. But if I am going to   make a bet, the probability of him   beating Rigondeux will be slim. There is no question that Donaire has the size and the power; however,  there is no question either that Rigondeux has the overwhelming advantage in skills and natural physical  attributes . 

No matter how hard he trains,  Donaire  can never out box Rigondeux; and he doesn't have the 'hit and not be hit' skills of a Rigondeaux either. The only way he can beat Rigondeux is to impose his will (and his strength), hurt him early on,  sending  him retreating defensively through most of the fight by applying  constant pressure;  or  to knock him out.  To be able to do this, he will  need a lot of courage to fight through adversity; he should take more  chances and  be prepared both  physically and mentally to eat more leather in doing so. Sure , this is a tall order as Donaire is a counter-puncher, has difficulty leading a fight, and Rigondeux's level is way above all the other opponents he bamboozled before.

-- But win or lose, will he have (a ton of a)   the heart to do this?

Guilliermo Rigondeux