All eyes in the boxing world will be on Nonito Donaire (31-1, 20 KO) and Guillermo Rigondeaux (11-0, 8 KO) when the two meet Saturday in a championship bout for the WBA, WBO and The Ring Super Bantamweight titles.
While there hasn't been as much hoopla surrounding this fight as a major pay-per-view event, this is a fight that should have fans buzzing.
Donaire may not have the drawing power of a Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao, but he's currently No. 5 on ESPN's pound-for-pound rankings.
Whereas most fights involving a top-five pound-for-pound fighter aren't all that even on paper, HBO has put together a highly competitive matchup for Donaire in Rigondeaux. The challenger is a champion in his own right who has an extensive amateur career as well as an undefeated record as a pro to his name.
Here's everything you need to know before this weekend's main event.
Odds (via Bovada): Donaire -205, Rigondeaux +165
As far as boxing odds go, Vegas sees this as fairly close. Donaire is the slight favorite, but given the odds that pound-for-pound greats usually get going in their fights, you can tell that the anticipation for this matchup is for real.
The over/under for the bout has been set at 9.5 rounds. Given both fighters have a history of knocking opponents out, taking the under is an interesting play. Three of Rigondeaux's last four fights have ended by knockout and Donaire is coming off of a knockout win against Jorge Arce. Therefore, both guys have the ability to end the fight early.
Key to the Fight: Experience
When it comes down to it, both of these guys are just impressive in the ring. Donaire has earned his spot in the pound-for-pound rankings with 30 consecutive wins. Rigondeaux has parlayed an amateur career that included two Olympic gold medals into a meteoric rise up the division's pecking order.
The key difference could be experience.
As impressive as Rigondeaux's amateur career was, his pro experience pales in comparison to Donaire's.
Donaire has fought just about every name in the division imaginable. Arce, Jeffrey Mathebula and Wilfredo Vazquez, Jr. are just a few of the bigger names that he's take on and beaten with ease.
Rigondeaux is more dangerous than any of those opponents, but he still remains largely untested at the professional level. This will be the first time in his career that he will be fighting against someone that can match his physical tools in the ring.
This could be a case of the fighter with the most big-fight experience holding the upper hand.
Prediction: Donaire by Decision
This should be a great fight. These two are the best the division has to offer and fans couldn't ask for a better matchup.
However, the bottom line is that Donaire has been involved in big fights before and Rigondeaux hasn't. Donaire will have his hands full with Rigondeaux's speed and technique, but we haven't seen Rigondeaux be forced to combat someone that can match his speed and power.
Donaire can and will. Expect this to be a close fight throughout, but Donaire does enough to get the nod on the scorecards.
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