Nonito Donaire vs Vic Darchinyan II: The 'Raging Bull' hunting for revenge

By Peter Wells (twitter- @boxingsaddler):



The pressure is on Donaire(right) to repeat against Darchinyan(left)

When in 2007 Nonito Donaire blitzed Vic Darchinyan in just 5 rounds their careers looked to be transcending along separate paths, yet here we are 6 years later and two old rivals meet again under more critical circumstances. So will the rematch follow the same pattern as the first encounter or will Darchinyan back up his own boasts, "I made him. I'm going to break him."

Donaire 31-2(20) and fighting out of the Philippines has grown a fan base over the years, expected by many to be the predecessor of Manny Pacquiao. But some of the adoration he garnered over the years was slightly lost after denouncing Guillermo Rigondeaux for many months as a fighter not in his league, only for the artistic Cuban to dominate Donaire for a clear points win. Afterwards Donaire said he did not take the fight as earnestly as he had previous contests, which for many is a sign of disrespect to a fighter many rank in the pound-for-pound top 10.



First time around it was curtains for Darchinyan

That embarrassing blemish aside Nonito has flown through the ranks in the lower weight classes, winning 5 titles in 3 divisions - this is not including the Interim title he won at Super Flyweight. And for a fighter with just 33 contests to his name, he boasts one very impressive resume, post Darchinyan the 'Filipino Flash' has beaten; Luis Maldonado(TKO 8), Moruti Mthalane(TKO 6), Raul Martinez(TKO 4), Hernan Marquez(TKO 8), Wladimir Sidorenko(KO 4), Omar Narvaez(UD 12), Toshiaki Nishioka(TKO 9) and Jorge Arce(KO 3) as well as many others.

Darchinyan 39-5-1(28) boasts an impressive record too including wins over Arce(RTD 11) and Maldonado(TKO 8) as well. Defeats to world class fighters Joseph Agbeko(UD 12), Abner Mares(SD 12), Anselmo Moreno(UD 12) and Shinsuke Yamanaka(UD 12) are accompanied by impressive wins against Yonnhy Perez(TD 5), Tomas Rojas(KO 2), Cristian Mijares(KO 9) and Irene Pacheco(TKO 11).

Yet for all his glory at the age of 37 and with 4 defeats since his first career reverse at the hands of Donaire the Armenian is not the force he was the first time these two encountered.

Donaire's trademark left hook and fast hands will cause problems once again for Darchinyan, although question marks surrounding Donaire's power since his move to Bantamweight and Super Bantamweight have not yet been vanquished despite his last two wins coming by way of knockout. That is due to the fact that Nishioka's tactics never looked like they entailed winning the fight and Arce was a shadow of his old self, and his machismo and bravery got the better of him in the 3rd round of their contest.



Bouncing back: Donaire lost last time out to Rigondeaux

Darchinyan's awkward style made no effect on Donaire last time out but he can take comfort from the way in which Rigondeaux brought out the cautious side in Donaire. But it's unlikely that Nonito will be quite as gun-shy against a foe he knows all about.

Expect Donaire to be hot on the heels of Darchinyan from the beginning of the contest, conserving the left hand for when Darchinyan throws an overhand right. With the longer reach Donaire will feel comfortable at range but with a point to prove its unlikely he'll become too contented like he did against Narvaez in their drab affair. While Darchinyan will struggle he may find a few decent openings but its unlikely his frame will carry the same power at Super Bantamweight as it did in the lower divisions - since knocking out Tomas Rojas at Super Flyweight in 2009 he has only one stoppage win.

The pick is for Darchinyan's corner or the referee to pull the former IBF, WBA & WBC Super Flyweight world champion out somewhere around the 9th round with Donaire a long way ahead on the scorecards in an entertaining but one-sided fight.

I'll finish by wishing Magomed Abdusalomov who is currently in a medically induced coma after his loss to Mike Perez in a thoroughly entertaining Heavyweight fight a full and speedy recovery. Abdusalomov is 18-1(18) and I ask you to keep this warrior of the ring and his family including his wife and three children in your thoughts and prayers.