Anatomy of a sorry mismatch
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 16 Apr 2013
A raging mismatch, the fight was not, in any way, close.
Promoter Bob Arum, sour-graping like an old man a decade older than 81, must however be forgiven for readily shooting down the phenomenal Guillermo Rigondeaux as a boring, unsaleable warrior.
Of course, it was Arum who had initially warned that the world super-bantamweight unification fight between Rigondeaux and the highly favored Nonito Donaire could slip into a tasteless tactical war dance.
The fight was not, in any way, dull nor unexciting.
**
Arum, tested but seldom trusted, reluctantly gave the fight to Rigondeaux by a measly point.
Maybe he managed to keep his score close by telling himself (and the boxing public in the post-fight) that all Rigondeaux did was escape and run.
It was even harder to think if Arum had himself honestly believed what he was saying.
For example: How could a guy who allegedly kept running away inflict horrible damage on the face (not to mention the heart and confidence) of his celebrated foe?
Rigondeau never took a single step back.
The tough, gifted Cuban defector, visibly carved out of a rock, instead made a masterful display of tactical scientific boxing seldom seen in the United States.
**
As a result, he reduced Donaire, who had bragged about feeling invincible in the pre-fight, into a pale, shaky one-dimensional aspirant.
If Rigondeaux had to be aptly accused, it should not be for running or skirting the issue.
If Rigondeaux had to be charged at all, it should be for being niftly inaccessible each time the stammering, unfocused Donaire would seek him out with tentative, uptight shots.
Rigondeaux, maybe without meaning to, also exposed Donaire as an over-hyped paper champion.
**
In fairness to Donaire, he did not readily submit post-fight alibis.
But once put in a spot, he started to complain about a hitherto unheard of shoulder injury.
He also admitted not having studied or assessed Rigondeaux style and prowess.
Meanwhile, Arum insisted Nonito should next fight as a full featherweight, after having had to struggle with the weighing scales for his last fight.
**
That?s a very salable proposition.
But what was quite hard to believe was the Arum insistence that Rigondeaux?s pure worth as a warrior would not sell.
Who knows, there may have never been nobody as phenomenal as him since the time of our own Pancho Villa, described as a soundless assassin who could materialize at the back of his foe in half a wink?after having landed a frontal punch?
Mr. Arum could disagree. But inaccessible and at times impossible as Rigondeaux had been against Donaire , this reporter would come rushing to ringside the next time the great Cuban fights.
It?s not every month, or year, that you could come upon somebody with such sweet, symphonic rhythm that could reduce the proudest among them into fumbling weak-hearted pretenders to the crown.
Mr. Arum can be expected to junk what we?ve been trying to honestly point out here as pure lies.
End it.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
ACCRA WEIGH-IN RESULTS: RICHARDS AND AZEEZ PREPARE FOR HISTORIC CLASH
Sat, 20 Dec 2025Two USA Boxing Junior National Champions Invited to Attend Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua Bout Friday in Miami
Sat, 20 Dec 2025Ramon Cardenas Scores One Punch Knockout Over Erik Robles in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s The Contender Series
Fri, 19 Dec 2025Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: The Jig Is Up
By Chris Carlson, Fri, 19 Dec 2025January 31: Rohan Polanco-Christian Gomez Confirmed as Co-Feature to Xander Zayas-Abass Baraou Title Unification Showdown at Coliseo de Puerto Rico in San Juan
Fri, 19 Dec 2025Jake Paul, Anthony Joshua Tip the Scales Ahead of Netflix Heavyweight Spectacle in Miami
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 19 Dec 2025Suelo rules Thailand chess tourney
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 19 Dec 2025RICHARDS AND AZEEZ SET FOR HISTORIC SHOWDOWN AS SOUTH LONDON LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS FACE-OFF AT PRESS CONFERENCE IN GHANA
Fri, 19 Dec 2025Brooklyn’s undefeated Pryce Taylor Called one of top heavyweight prospects in U.S.
Fri, 19 Dec 2025INDIGO FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS AS GIORGIO VISOLI OVERCOMES TOUGH JOE HOWARTH – AND TIAH-MAI AYTON WINS AGAIN
Thu, 18 Dec 2025Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Merry Fistmas’ at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Tomorrow Night at 7 pm ET
Thu, 18 Dec 2025Undefeated Jose Tito Sanchez Returns to Face Jesus Ramirez Rubio in Super Bantamweight Main Event on Friday
Thu, 18 Dec 2025Three boxers aim for finals
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 17 Dec 2025BOOM! Terence Crawford Stuns the World with Retirement at 42-0
By Dong Secuya, Wed, 17 Dec 2025Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: The Biggest “Crossroads” Fight Ever!
By Ralph Rimpell, Wed, 17 Dec 2025