Nonito Donaire vs. Jorge Arce
On saturday night fast rising Nonito Donaire took on the ageing fighter Jorge Arce. It was supposed to be an all action fight, as most of Arce's fights are. And for the short time it lasted it was. Big time boxing fans knew that coming into this fight Arce wouldn't just try to survive for 12 rounds, they knew he would come to fight. And like the Mexican warrior he is, he did just that. But Donaire who was coming of three wins before this fight in 2012 alone, was looking for his fourth and wasn't planning and being denied.
It was a slow start to the fight, as a lot of fights are. The two fighters and good friends outside the ring just tried to feel each other out. A few good punches were traded but there wasn't a ton of action and the action there was Donaire got the best of. Arce who usually comes out guns blazing was a little more subdued out of respect for the immense skills of Donaire. But fans knew Arce couldn't hold back for long. In the second round the action picked up as Arce opened up and started to throw more. But when you open up against Donaire bad things tend to happen. Donaire caught Arce with a quick straight right hand that sent Arce stumbling back. Although he did not hit the canvass his glove did to keep him up which counts as a knockdown. Once that happened Arce really sensed he needed to go all-in, and so he mounted his attack.
The 3rd round saw Arce slowly stalk his opponent around the ring as Donaire used his elite footwork to stay out of range. Whenever Arce would get close enough to do damage Donaire would stick him with a jab and move out of punching distance. As much as Arce tried to land a big shot, he just couldn't find the range or time Donaire. Then with about thirty seconds to go in the 3rd round Donaire caught Arce with a big right, left combination that sent Arce stumbling across the ring and into the ropes. Donaire pounced on him and throw a massive left hand that dropped Arce. But the Mexican warrior got to his feet and beat the count, refusing to give in. Then with two seconds left in the round Donaire caught Arce with a perfect left hook. It came just as Arce seemed to be dropping his guard to throw a punch himself. Donaire's punch landed perfectly on the chin sending Arce's limbs flailing all over the place. He hit the deck hard and it was clear he would not get up. That knockout is definately on the short list for knockout of the year.
After the fight during Larry Merchant's interview, his last for HBO, both fighters showed class by thanking him for his service to boxing. And Arce after a Hall of Fame caliber career announced his retirement. He said that he lost to the best and he was now done. It was a smart move for a boxer who has been in so many wars. He has been smart with his money and can now enjoy spending time with his family and his future as a boxing broadcaster.
Donaire is now 4-0 in 2012 and will probably lock up the award for fighter of the year. As good as Donaire has been he is also already 30 years old and doesn't have a signature win on his record yet. While big time boxing fans are well aware of his status as a top 5 p4p fighter, casual fans are not. He doesn't have a large fan base and at his advanced age the question remains if he ever will. The big knock against Donaire is that he hasn't fought the other elite fighters in and around his weight class. If he wants to gain fans and bigger paydays Donaire will need to fight Abner Mares, Guillermo Rigondeaux, or Yuriorkis Gamboa, and he will need to fight them soon. A fight with Mares seems out the question since he is promoted by Golden Boy who has a long running fued with Top Rank and the two companies refuse to do business together. But Rigondeaux is also promoted by Top Rank so that fight could easily be made, as could a fight with Gamboa who is promoted by new company SMS which is run by rapper/mogul 50 Cent. Donaire basically called out Bob Arum after this fight against Arce to make one of those fights happen. For now fans will have to wait and see how the career of Donaire plays out. Will he be a PPV superstar who continually takes on the best fighters available? Or will he continue to dominate good, albeit lesser skilled opponents for the rest of his career? Let's hope we see a Donaire vs. Rigondeaux fight early next year.
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