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| photo credit: Harry How/Getty Images |
When Roy Jones, Jr. speaks about Nonito Donaire, Jr.'s attributes as a boxer, the former pound-for-pound great has only positive things to say: "Donaire has the skills, speed, power, agility, great foot movement and very explosive!" He opined that Donaire has the "quality to be what a pound-for-pound fighter is" and believes the Filipino fighter is the "best fighter in the world today."
By disposing every fighter who steps in his way with ease, Nonito Donaire, Jr. was the prohibitive favorite coming into the fight to win over a supposedly tough and durable Toshiaki Nishioka, the WBC super bantamweight emeritus. On paper, the protagonists' resumes were impressive as both were on a hot win streak: Donaire has not lost a fight in 11 years while Nishioka has not tasted defeat in 8 years. Throughout their careers, they have faced quality opponents and have earned their rightful place in the sport.
And by virtue of their fearsome records (Donaire 29-1, 18 KOs and Nishioka 39-4-3, 24 KOs) and their reputations as two of the best fighters in the division, it was only fitting that the people inside the arena and those glued to their TV sets were expecting nothing but a barnburner from Nonito Donaire, Jr. and Toshiaki Nishioka. After all, they were not nicknamed the Filipino Flash and Speed King respectively for nothing.
In fact, the promoters, HBO Boxing and their rah-rah boys have bombarded the boxing sphere for weeks about the Donaire-Nishioka super bantamweight showdown for the WBO title. They were so sure about the fireworks that will explode on fight night that they were pronouncing the event as Fight of the Year (FOY) material. But some of them, though, have probably not heard of Robert Burns before, yet the Ploughman Poet's words echoed at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA on fight night: "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men."
And so the fight went on with only Nonito Donaire, Jr. showing up for the fight. Toshiaki Nishioka, the Japanese samurai, was a no-show and nowhere to be found in the biggest stage of the biggest fight of his career. No Kamikaze attacks, no Banzai charge but just a token resistance from the fighter from the land of the rising sun.
In the fight, Toshiaki Nishioka exhibited one of the worst cases of nerves in recent memory, which is quite a surprise especially for somebody who was touted as a warrior. In this particular fight, Nishioka was mentally and physically finished just seconds into the first round and probably regrets finding himself trading leather with Nonito Donaire, Jr. He was so wary and intimidated by Nonito Donaire, Jr.'s vaunted left hook that he spent the night in retreat, on the defensive and refusing to engage in battle.
With just 58 seconds remaining in the sixth round, Nishioka's worst fear came in the form of a left upper cut to the chin from Donaire that dropped him on the seat of his pants. Though he tried to put up some fights in the next few rounds after that, it was clear that he does not have the will to go to war with the Filipino.
And with 1:54 in the 9th round, Nonito Donaire, Jr.'s right straight landed into Nishioka's kisser that snapped his head and put him on the seat of his pants for the second time in the fight. Although the Japanese fighter was able to beat the count, it was the prelude to the end of the ugly fight as his corner finally threw in the towel shortly thereafter to end his pitiful night.
Nonito Donaire, Jr., the Filipino Flash dazzled us with his power and quick hands, his double-fisted attacks, his purposeful movements and solid footwork inside the ring. We can even say that Donaire's offensive arsenal is one of the best, if not the best in the business. Yet, to some people watching the fight, the masterpiece that Donaire was painting against Nishioka inside the ring seemed to lack the proverbial explosion of color and soul that many expect from him.
From all angles, it was a clinical demolition administered by Nonito Donaire, Jr. on the hapless and bewildered Toshiaki Nishioka. But despite outclassing his opponent, the Filipino Flash failed to put on the requisite fireworks that were needed in the fight. Some people even believed that Nonito Donaire, Jr. could have ended the fight early if he wanted to, just to save them from the agony of watching a one-sided fight.
And Nonito Donaire, Jr.'s post-fight statements supports their belief.
"We know that we can end the fight with one punch. And that what's happened. We just want him to make a mistake and well get him. And he made a mistake."
"When you do engage, Nonito is a surgeon. The demolition man comes in and knocks you out."
For all of Nonito Donaire, Jr.'s talent and skills, time and again and sometimes through no fault of his own, he has uncannily found himself in boring one-sided fights. Because of Nonito Donaire, Jr.'s huge talent and skills, the bar for his exploits inside the ring was set way up high. Thus, even if Nonito Donaire, Jr. would ultimately end up knocking the lights out of his opponents, many fight fans would sometimes not be satisfied with the way he fights.
For example, this writer has watched the Donaire-Nishioka fight with five other boxing fans over some pizzas and beer, and these guys are no ordinary or run-of-the-mill fight fans, for they know their boxing well. They have been around and witnessed the Kronk and Tommy Hearns era in Detroit.
But despite watching Nonito Donaire, Jr. running rings around Toshiaki Nishioka and giving the Japanese a neat boxing lesson, and eventually stopping him in the 9th round, they were of the opinion that there was something lacking in the fight. They compared the fight to the food offerings typically found in a fast food chain -- bland, hard to swallow and no flavor at all.
And there lies the rub.
Note: This article was previously published on Detroit Fight Sports Examiner
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