MANILA, Philippines - Based on the official punch stats, Guillermo Rigondeaux was the busier fighter all throughout 12 rounds against Nonito Donaire Jr.
The 32-year-old Cuban threw more punches and landed more.
Yes, he rode the bike around the ring, but Rigondeaux, according to CompuBox, did everything he needed to win the bout.
Rigondeaux literally outboxed Donaire even if he went down in the 10th round.
As far as the total punches thrown are concerned, Rigondeux had the upperhand, 396-352. The Cuban and now resident of Miami landed more shots, 129-82, for a higher percentage, 33 to 23.
After the fight, Rigondeaux said he just did what he planned to do.
Experts believe that Rigondeaux frustraded Donaire by moving a lot, and that the Filipino may have carried only one game plan to the ring: to score a knockout.
When Donaire failed, even when he came close to it in the 10th, there was nothing more he could do.
“You saw it – moving, boxing. You can’t win by landing one shot. Donaire’s an excellent fighter but you cannot win a fight with one shot,†Rigondeaux said afterwards.
Even in the jabs department, Rigondeaux had the numbers on his side, throwing a whole lot more, 220-138, and definitely landing more 56-18.
Donaire tried hard to connect with his jab so he could follow it up with his left hook. But he just didn’t throw as many, and did not get the result he wants.
Donaire, who can knock out any opponent with one punch, was ahead only in the number of power shots thrown, 214-176.
But it didn’t mean he landed more because Rigondeaux did, 73-64.
Rigondeaux had the better fight plan. He wanted to keep busy as much as he could, throwing as many punches and running away when he didn’t throw.
Donaire wasn’t able to adjust because it seemed that all he wanted was to score a knockout.
It just didn’t work.