Nonito Donaire vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux II - TBA?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Nonito Donaire Excited By Thought Of Rigondeaux Rematch At 118 Pounds

Aligning himself with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions might mean Nonito Donaire can attempt to avenge one of his most disappointing defeats.

Donaire and Guillermo Rigondeaux both have moved down to the bantamweight division and are affiliated with PBC. If Donaire can win his next fight, they each would own world titles at 118 pounds, too.

Seven years after Rigondeaux defeated him in their 122-pound title unification fight, Donaire is intrigued by the idea of a rematch with the Cuban southpaw.

“You know me, man. I’m a fighter. I’ll fight anybody,” Donaire told co-hosts Kenneth Bouhairie and Michael Rosenthal during an newest episode of “The PBC Podcast” on premierboxingchampions.com. “But mainly, [bantamweight] is my territory. So, I’m excited with that one as well, the thought of it.”

Donaire dropped Rigondeaux in the 10th round, but the two-time Olympic gold medalist defeated Donaire on all three scorecards in April 2013 at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

The 39-year-old Rigondeaux (20-1, 13 KOs, 1 NC) moved down from 122 pounds to 118 for his bantamweight debut in his last fight. He floored Liborio Solis in the seventh round and topped Panama’s Solis (30-6-1, 14 KOs, 1 NC) by split decision to win the then-vacant WBA world bantamweight championship February 8 at PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The 37-year-old Donaire rejuvenated his career with an impressive performance in his most recent appearance. The five-division champion gave Japanese star Naoya Inoue the most difficult fight of his career in the final of the World Boxing Super Series’ bantamweight tournament.

Inoue (19-0, 16 KOs) out-pointed Donaire (40-6, 26 KOs) by big margins on two scorecards and won a 12-round unanimous decision, but Donaire drilled Inoue with a right hand that hurt him in the ninth round November 7 in Saitama, Japan. Two rounds later, Inoue made Donaire take a knee after landing a hard left to his body.

The Boxing Writers Association of America voted Inoue-Donaire its “Fight of the Year” for 2019.

Before he could seriously consider a Rigondeaux rematch, Donaire would have to defeat France’s Nordine Oubaali (17-0, 12 KOs) in his first fight following the COVID-19 pandemic.

They were tentatively scheduled to meet May 16 for Oubaali’s WBC bantamweight title. Donaire is the WBC’s mandatory challenger for Oubaali’s belt.

“I hope so,” Donaire said regarding the Oubaali bout being rescheduled. “I believe so. I mean, nothing is really clear at this time. It was for May 16th, and it just went out the window. And, you know, they’re trying to figure out what’s going on with boxing, and how they’re gonna go on in the next phase and doing it. So, I’m hoping that it’s still the same thing and I’m still kinda training for that.”

Las Vegas’ Donaire is 2-1 at bantamweight since he dropped down two divisions following a lopsided, 12-round, unanimous-decision defeat to Northern Ireland’s Carl Frampton two years ago in Belfast. Donaire held the WBC and WBO bantamweight titles in 2011.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Who would win the rematch?

If they do fight, it would be around 7-8 years since the first.

[gilgamesh]

Bit of an odd rematch but I suppose it makes sense for both at this point.

[watsupdoc87]

Rigo again. Close points

[saad1000]

Rigo by points. Good fight though, he could easily get sparked. I didn't realize Donaire went to PBC. Why not make this fight?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Donaire: With My Added Experience, I Could Knock Rigondeaux Out in Rematch

Back in April of 2013, Nonito Donaire suffered the first defeat of his pro career when he lost a twelve round unanimous decision to Guillermo Rigondeaux in a super bantamweight unification.

Over the years, Donaire has fought as high as featherweight - winning a WBA world title in the weight class.

But in 2018, he decided to drop down by two weight divisions to the bantamweight limit of 118-pounds.

On Saturday night in Los Angeles, he will get the opportunity to capture a world title at his current weight when he challenges WBC champion Nordine Oubaali in a Showtime televised main event.

And then on August 14, also on Showtime, Rigondeaux - who last year also decided to drop down to the bantamweight division, will challenge WBO world champion John Reil Casimero.

Should they both win their upcoming bouts, Donaire is very interested in the possibility of avenging his first loss as a pro by facing Rigondeaux in a high stakes unification.

The bookies have tabbed Donaire as the underdog in his fight with Oubaali, while Casimero-Rigondeaux is viewed by many as a 50-50 fight.

Donaire indicates that his overall goal at the moment is to unify the entire bantamweight division. And if Rigondeaux captures the WBO title, the 'Filipino Flash' wants to get him in the ring.

“Without a doubt, if he can get past this tough fight [with Casimero], we will go for him. I'm coming to unify all the titles. I think that with the experience that I have added over these years [since we fought], I could knock out Rigondeaux. I have a lot plans and I am working for them," Donaire said to ESPN Deportes.

[Ruthless-RKO]

He probably does KO Rigo, but it won't be because Donaire has improved, it would be because Rigo is an old man.
Didn't look too good his fight, and looks as though he's trying to be more aggressive.

The first fight was good, good boxing fight, but casuals didn't like that style.

Eventually, he lost belts and HBO weren't interested.

[margaret thatcher]

could both lose their next fights

[Ruthless-RKO]

could both lose their next fights

Easy.