Donaire shows wear and tear

THE FIGHT between Nonito Donaire Jr. and Mexican Cesar Juarez last weekend came as a most welcome respite for boxing expert and lawyer Ed Tolentino after all the disappointing fights recently.

This was how Tolentino summarized the hard-earned victory of “The Filipino Flash” over Juarez in Puerto Rico last Saturday:

“Donaire got off to a great start, but Juarez just kept pressing forward. I thought Donaire was on the verge of capsizing but he refused to quit.

“By the tailend, the protagonists had turned the ring into a cauldron with their  heated exchanges. I thought the scoring  should have been closer, but no doubt Donaire won.”

Tolentino was one of the off-tube panelists in what turned out to be a title fight after the WBO failed to decide favorably  on Guillermo Rigondeaux’s appeal.

Until last weekend, the two-time Olympic gold medalist was the WBO bantamweight champion.

After defeating Donaire more than a year ago, the quick-punching Cuban didn’t fight again. He was thus stripped of his title by the WBO for inactivity.

Rigondeaux tried to salvage the situation and his belt with an appeal but it was  too late in the day. WBO president Paco Valcarcel turned it down.

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Although Filipino boxing experts expressed confidence that Donaire would win because of his rigid training under his father Nonito Sr. and his determination to get back on top, many had their doubts. Especially after another Filipino-American, Brian Viloria, lost to pound-for-pound king Roman Gonzalez of Nicaragua two months ago.

Despite his badly battered and bloodied face after the fight that went down the wire, Donaire was ecstatic as he climbed down the ring. He had just gotten a new lease on his career.

Immediately after the fight, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum signed up the five-division world champion to a one-year contract extension.

Arum said three fights are in Donaire’s calendar next year, two of them title bouts.

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If there is a downside at all, Tolentino said it is the fact that at age 33, the hard-hitting Donaire showed that wear and tear is setting in.

“Almost in every fight in recent years, his face has been busted or his hand injured. He took many unnecessary shots against Juarez,” Tolentino said.

From hereon, Tolentino said Donaire’s career should be treated with guarded optimism.