Nonito Donaire on Facing Rigondeaux: It Would Be Easy!

By Dennis "dSource" Guillermo

After his dominating third round knockout win that sent Mexican warrior Jorge Arce to retirement, the focus turns to what's next in line for Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire, Jr. for 2013 as he continues his rise to recognition as one of this era's elite boxers.

A couple of marquee names laid for Donaire by fans of the sweet science are that of WBA jr. featherweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux, and WBC jr. featherweight champion Abner Mares, both unbeaten and highly-regarded fighters.

"Right now it's (Abner) Mares who has been calling me out that I think has the credibility to fight me, but it doesn't matter to me. I said to myself that I'm going to try to get those guys next year," Donaire told this scribe. "They'll wait their turn, I'm going to get to them."

When I asked who he thinks will give him a harder time, Donaire didn't mince words with his response. "With (Guillermo) Rigondeaux, it's an easy thing. I love fighting left-handers, and I'm a boxer. It's definitely an easier fight," said Donaire. "But the tough fight is how tough Mares is going to be. If he can take my punches, it's going to be a long night.. a tough night," he added.

As far as styles are concerned, Donaire insisted that Mares, despite fitting the role of the bull to Donaire's matador, poses more problems for him than Rigondeaux. "It's not just a boxer can outbox a fighter; a fighter can overwhelm a boxer. That's going to be a tougher fight I think, more than Rigondeaux," explained Donaire.

It is perhaps his familiarity with Rigondeaux's style which gives Donaire the confidence in his abilities to dispatch the former Cuban Olympic Gold medalist. "Rigondeaux is a boxer, he's a counter-puncher. He waits for his opponents," Donaire said, and added, "I got the jab. I can jab him all day. I can set him up all day. It's going to be an easy fight. That's the kind of fight that I fight."