By Edward Chaykovsky

WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (31-1, 20KOs) believes Mexico's Fernando Montiel is a tougher opponent than WBA 122-pound king Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0, 8KOs). Donaire knocked out in two rounds in their 2011 unification match. He faces Rigondeaux, a two-time Olympic gold medal winner and regarded as one of the best amateur fighters in history, in a unification on April 13th in New York City. Donaire also says Abner Mares, now at featherweight, is a tougher foe as well.

"He has a lot of amateur experience, but amateur experiance is different from professional fights. I think Montiel is a much tougher fight. There are a lot of guys out there. I think [Abner] Mares is a tougher fight, but again it's depends on how he comes into the fight. I can't say how he will be, but only inside that ring we'll find out," Donaire told ESPN.