Avila Perspective, Chap 164: Legend of Nonito Donaire and More

For two decades Nonito Donaire has journeyed through the ranks of flyweights to featherweights knocking off those perceived to be unbeatable and superior to his own talents.

Now 39, the prizefighter known as the “Filipino Flash” still has work to do.

“I’m going to go after all of the other bantamweight champions,” said Donaire.

Donaire (41-6, 27 KOs) defends the WBC bantamweight world title against fellow Filipino Reymart Gaballo (24-0, 20 KOs) at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles on Saturday Dec. 11. Showtime will televise.

Gaballo was about six years old when Donaire had his first pro bout at the nearby Hollywood Park Casino, spitting distance from Dignity Health Sports Park. That was in February 2001.

“I’m very happy and it gives me great pleasure to have this chance to become world champion. I’ve been working my whole life to accomplish this goal,” said Gaballo, 25.

Three years ago, when Donaire lost to Carl Frampton for the vacant featherweight world title, most people dismissed the multi-division champion as simply a gate-keeper. So, he ventured to Scotland and knocked off Ryan Burnett for the WBA bantamweight title. Next, he knocked off Stephon Young.

He was the perfect foil for Japan’s Naoya “Monster” Inoue. Or so promoters and fans thought.

Donaire nearly toppled the reign of Inoue and put a crack on the Japanese fighter’s aura of invincibility. Never before, or since that fight two years ago in Tokyo, has Inoue experienced a more competitive battle where judges were absolutely necessary to determine the winner. Even today, many feel Donaire won that fight.

Classy as ever Donaire accepted the defeat and moved on.

When he met France’s Nordine Oubaali for his WBC bantamweight title there was much derision from the European. He had brushed aside American contender Rau’shee Warren like tumbleweed and defended the title twice more. It seemed he was not convinced of Donaire’s abilities. There was a hint of rudeness.

Aesthetics are not Donaire’s calling card. He usually walks into an arena with a smile and recognizes the fans for their support. When the fight commences the angular figure of Donaire probes and evaluates his foe with subtle bobs and weaves and feints.

Oubaali probably studied film of Donaire and saw an older veteran hanging on with his experience. But when the French fighter decided to attack and left the slightest of openings there was a flash of a left hook and down he went. He got up, proceeded to fight again and must have forgot the previous mistake because he left the same opening and Donaire repeated the same lightning left hook. This time the mistake was fatal. Oubaali would not be able to continue.

“For me, after the Naoya Inoue fight, I saw that I still had a purpose in this sport. I came in strong against Nordine Oubaali in my last fight because I have that purpose. That purpose is to become undisputed champion of the world,” Donaire said.

Donaire has weaved his magic 47 times during his career. Time doesn’t allow infinite opportunities in prizefighting. One goal he has in mind is a return match with Japan’s great Monster Inoue. Their first encounter left many questions.

First, a young Filipino slugger stands in his way.

“I’m here enjoying this moment and every moment I have left in my career,” said Donaire.

Let’s all enjoy this journey.

Showtime will also be showing a replay of the Gervonta Davis vs Isaac Cruz lightweight world title fight that took place on Sunday Dec. 5, at Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Liverpool Fights

The United Kingdom loves boxing and its prodigies.

Conor Benn (19-0, 12 KOs) has been touted as the next coming of Ricky Hatton, Prince Naseem and Conor’s father Nigel Benn. Now he faces American Chris Algieri (25-3, 9 KOs) not a particularly dangerous fighter on Saturday Dec. 11, at M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England. DAZN will stream the fight card.

But it always comes down to the number’s game. Many of the British fighters are the best in the United Kingdom, or best in Europe, but being the best in the world is a clearly different matter.

Those dang Americans and Mexicans keep blocking the way.

Instead of putting top Americans the British promoter has placed a less dangerous fighter in Algieri to test the mettle of Benn.

Algieri may not have the superior strength or speed of others, but mentally you won’t find anyone smarter. And not because he has various college degrees, but he also has ring smarts. His losses have only come against world champions like Amir Khan, Manny Pacquiao and Errol Spence Jr.

Is Benn equal to those three?

“Algieri is a better version of all my last opponents, and he beats everything they do in my opinion in terms of boxing IQ, cuteness, knowing his way around the ring. People say he can’t punch but anyone with 8oz gloves can punch,” said Benn wisely.

The world will find out about Benn on Saturday.

Also, Ireland’s great Katie Taylor defends the undisputed lightweight world championship against Kazakhstan’s Firuza Sharipova (13-0). If Taylor wins, that sets up a possible showdown with Brooklyn’s Amanda Serrano who fights next week.

If both Taylor and Serrano win their bouts they will set up perhaps the biggest fight in female boxing history early next year.

“There’s so many big fights out there for me, the bigger names that could possibly happen next year, so I’ve got to get through Saturday night first and focus on the bigger fights ahead,” Taylor said.

Lomachenko in NYC

With the lightweight division stacked with talent its easy to forget about Vasyl Lomachenko.

Don’t be hasty.

Lomachenko (15-2, 11 KOs) meets Richard Commey (30-3, 27 KOs) on Saturday, Dec. 11, at Madison Square Garden Hulu Theater in New York City. This battle between former world titlists on the Top Rank card will be shown on ESPN.

Over the length of his boxing career Lomachenko has built a following in awe of his technical prowess. But as often the case with highly technical amateur fighters, once they become professionals that technique can get in the way.

Pro fighting is broken down into one simple form: knock out the opponent or beat the other guy up.

When Lomachenko fought Teofimo Lopez a year ago he got tangled in his own technique before tearing off the spider webs and fighting. It was too late.

Commey can fight and he can hit. Lomachenko is the smaller fighter but has always been very smart in the ring. This fight will foretell their respective futures.

Fights to Watch

Sat. AXS.TV 8 a.m. Sunny Edwards (16-0) vs Jayson Mama (16-0); Donnie Nietes (43-1-5) vs Norbelto Jimenez (30-9-5).

Sat. DAZN 11 a.m. Conor Benn (19-0) vs Chris Algieri (25-3); Katie Taylor (19-0) vs Firuza Sharipova (14-1)
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Sat. ESPN 6 p.m. Vasyl Lomachenko (15-2) vs Richard Commey (30-3).

Sat. Showtime 7 p.m. Nonito Donaire (41-6) vs Reymart Gaballo (24-0); replay of Gervonta Davis vs Isaac Cruz.

Check out more boxing news on video at the Boxing Channel