source: abs-cbnnews.com

Boxing analysts predict Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. will win over former super bantamweight champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. this weekend, and they see him winning big.

RingTV.com co-editors Doug Fischer and Michael Rosenthal believe Donaire’s climb to the 122-pound weight class will do wonders for the Filipino Flash’s performance.

“In recent history, when he makes a debut [in a weight class] he makes a tremendous splash,” said Fischer.

Donaire, the reigning WBA and WBA bantamweight champion, is debuting as a super bantamweight against Vazquez.

As a super bantamweight, Donaire no longer needs to strain himself while shedding weight, which is what he had to do in the 118-pound weight class.

“He's gotten used to cutting a lot of weight a week to the fight, I think he's gonna cut less weight. He may feel stronger and even faster,” said Fischer.

“I think he might give an explosive performance just like what he had last February against Fernando Montiel... I don't know if he's gonna get to Wilfredo Vazquez that quickly but I think he's gonna win by knockout,” he added.

Better than Arce

Rosenthal said another factor that plays to Donaire’s favor is Vazquez’s confidence.

Although Vazquez is coming off a 3rd-round knockout victory over Roberto Carlos Leyva last October, he suffered a 12th-round stoppage in the hands of Mexican boxer Jorge Arce five months earlier.

“There's a question with Vazquez, his confidence after the fight [against Arce],” said Rosenthal.

Rosenthal said Vazquez ran out of gas against Arce, who is a smaller and older fighter.

He believes Donaire’s a better fighter than Arce and would probably cause more trouble for Vazquez.

“Arce's probably a hall of famer, but right now, I think Donaire's up here and Arce's somewhere down here,” said Rosenthal.

At stake in the Donaire-Vazquez clash is the vacant WBO super bantamweight crown.

ABS-CBN Sports will air Donaire vs. Vasquez on Feb. 5 (Sunday), 10:15 a.m. on ABS-CBN Channel 2

Advertisement
Watch online TV on your PC w/ over 3,500 channels available 24/7