Back to Rigondeaux?

There is talk that Nonito Donaire Jr. has given up the chase of collecting more world titles in different divisions even as with age, the natural tendency is to increase body weight. The Filipino Flash now realizes it’s not easy to do what Manny Pacquiao did. Pacquiao is the only fighter ever to capture eight world titles in different weight classes – flyweight (112-pound limit), super bantamweight (122), featherweight (126), superfeatherweight (130), lightweight (135), superlightweight (140), welterweight (147) and superwelterweight (154).

Donaire has won world titles in the flyweight, bantamweight, superbantamweight and featherweight categories. He would’ve added the superflyweight championship but held only the WBA interim version. Pacquiao would’ve bagged more titles but skipped the superflyweight and bantamweight classes to move straight up to superbantamweight after outgrowing the flyweight division. Claiming four titles in four different categories is a huge accomplishment for Donaire or for any fighter so there’s nothing to be ashamed of in ending the Drive for Five.

Last Saturday, Donaire battled Jamaica’s Nicholas Walters to unify their WBA featherweight championships in Carson City, California. It’s anomalous for two fighters to be recognized as world champion by the same organization but that’s how the unscrupulous WBA does business. Donaire entered the fight as the WBA “undisputed” or “super” featherweight champion while Walters came in as the WBA “regular” titlist. The WBA bestows the recognition of “super” or “undisputed” if a fighter holds the belts of at least two governing bodies (in Donaire’s case, he was also the IBO champion) or if he has made at least five successful title defenses. For the WBA, it’s more a business than a sports issue.

Since losing to Cuba’s Guillermo Rigondeaux in a WBA/WBO superbantamweight title unification showdown in April 2013, Donaire has fought exclusively as a featherweight, weighing in at 125 1/4 for Vic Darchinyan, 126 for Simpiwe Vetyeka and 125 3/4 for Walters. But after taking a bad beating from Walters, Donaire is reportedly thinking of dropping down to superbantamweight where Rigondeaux is lord and master.

* * * *

It’s not exactly forum-shopping for Donaire. He tried his best to outpunch Walters but was just overpowered. Donaire showed a lot of heart in battling Walters punch-for-punch and went down fighting, a testament to his courage. He never ran away even if it seemed that the Jamaican was too big and too strong. In the third round, a right uppercut sent Donaire down to a knee. And in the sixth, a chopping overhand right to the temple toppled him face-first. Donaire beat referee Raul Caiz Jr.’s count but was wobbly and unfit to continue.

Donaire, 31, could go after the featherweight titles of the other governing bodies. WBC champion Jhonny Gonzalez, who was once knocked out by Gerry Peñalosa on a body shot, is definitely beatable and the WBO’s Vasyl Lomachenko is, too. The IBF’s Evgeny Gradovich, however, may be too tough. But knowing that Walters is a superior fighter, Donaire probably wouldn’t like to stay in the featherweight division. If Donaire won a different version of the featherweight title, how credible would he be as a champion with Walters reigning on the other side of the fence? Walters would be like a daunting shadow hounding Donaire every step of the way.

A rematch with Walters would be out of the question since Donaire was emphatically trounced. The punch stats weren’t close as Walters landed 85 of 284 punches thrown compared to Donaire’s 40 of 169. In terms of jabs, Walters connected on 44 of 162 and Donaire, only four of 59. In power punches, Walters hit 41 of 122 and Donaire, 36 of 110. Walters’ five-inch reach advantage was a major factor as Donaire had to come forward, often leaving himself open to a counter, to make a fight of it. Donaire couldn’t jab like he should’ve because the distance favored Walters.

Donaire himself admitted he wasn’t in Walters’ class. That realization is what may prompt Donaire to drop down to superbantamweight if he wants to keep on fighting. Retirement, at this point, may not be a consideration. Donaire has a live contract with Top Rank and is up for at least two more fights until the end of next year.

e

If Donaire returns to the superbantamweight division, Rigondeaux will loom large in his horizon. Donaire floored Rigondeaux once in the 10th round of their battle in New York but lost a unanimous decision on scores of 116-111, 115-112 and 114-113. Since that bout, the Cuban has won twice, outpointing Joseph Agbeko and blitzing Thai patsy Sod Kokietgym in a single round. Rigondeaux isn’t an exciting fighter and doesn’t draw crowds because of his unattractive style. But a rematch with Donaire will draw interest. It shouldn’t happen just yet. Donaire may need a tune-up to regain his confidence and get used to the lower weight.

Dropping down a weight class to win a world title is no embarrassment. In March 2013, Roy Jones Jr. weighed in at 193 to beat John Ruiz for the WBA heavyweight crown. Eight months later, Jones was down to 175 to outpoint Antonio Tarver for the WBA/WBC/IBO lightheavyweight unified championship. In 1959, Carlos Ortiz scaled 139 3/4 and stopped Kenny Lane for the world lightwelterweight title. Three years later, Ortiz went down to 134 3/4 to outpoint Joe Brown for the world lightweight crown. Ortiz would reign twice as lightweight king and knocked out Flash Elorde twice in title defenses.

But before deciding to continue fighting or not, Donaire has some hard questions to answer. Is he willing to punish himself in the gym to bring down his weight and resume his boxing career? Is he willing to risk serious eye injury in the ring, considering he has been badly cut around both eyes in three of his last four outings? Is he willing to sacrifice to restart his climb back to the top?

Donaire is a proud fighter and won’t want to continue boxing if it’s just for the money. He’s motivated by the ambition to be a world champion. If he feels that ambition is now an elusive dream, then maybe it’s time to hang up the gloves. He’s been hurt badly in his last few fights and the concern is that it may be too much of a risk to go on fighting. Only Donaire can say if the concern is justified or not.