If Donaire pulls of the upset next week.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Considering the HOF worthy career he’s already had and the fact he’s approaching 40. Does an upset win put him in that highest echelon of bantamweight greats with the likes of Jofre and Olivares?

[BennyBlawnk]

He looses every time he takes one step up competition. He'll loose again.

[Madison Boxing]

He looses every time he takes one step up competition. He'll loose again.

exactly this ^

[famicommander]

Considering the HOF worthy career he’s already had and the fact he’s approaching 40. Does an upset win put him in that highest echelon of bantamweight greats with the likes of Jofre and Olivares?

Absolutely.

If he wins he'll be the first lineal bantamweight champion since Bernardo Pinango vacated the title in 1987 to move up to super bantamweight.

This title has been vacant for 35 years. That's the longest current vacancy in boxing by a wide margin. The second longest is the lineal strawweight title, which has been vacant since Ricardo Lopez moved up to light flyweight in 1999.

[ELPacman]

He looses every time he takes one step up competition. He'll loose again.

Nice trolling but he was in the first fight against Inoue. He gave him hell. The only fight I truly felt he was outclassed was against Rigondeaux. I mean if you're going to just count anyone that beats him as a step up, I'm sure you have an objective already. Walters was not a step up in competition, just a step up in weight which showed, he cannot hang at the higher weights. This doesn't take away anything from his accomplishments. He is one of the greatest smaller weight fighters of his generation, period.

[Tatabanya]

Considering the HOF worthy career he’s already had and the fact he’s approaching 40. Does an upset win put him in that highest echelon of bantamweight greats with the likes of Jofre and Olivares?

Yes, especially given his age. Beating Inoue at 40 would be a HUGE accomplishment.

Deep in my heart I am feeling that Nonito will do it.

[BigZ44]

Yeah, Nonito goes from HOF'er to ATG if he beats Inoue

[brettWall]

It just means he's one of those fighters that transcend age. And it would also mean multiple loses are not the be all and end all of boxing careers.

That's why I get irritated when people are babying 24 year old fighters, discouraging them to challenge themselves into fighting meaningful fights. Zero loss is more important fighting scrubs than losing, but getting lessons from experienced fighters.

As a fan I'd rather see which fighter has it and doesn't early, than wait so long and let the poor guy believe that he's something he isn't. In which case, it's already too late for him to change profession.