Nishioka is seen by some boxing fans and writers as the best fighter in the super bantamweight division, although it’s hard to agree with that belief given how mediocre Nishioka looked recently in barely beating a badly faded Rafael Marquez last October.
If Nishioka was the best in the division, it was well before guys like Abner Mares and Guillermo Rigondeaux arrived at this weight class, because Nishioka certainly doesn’t look like the best now. Sadly, Nishioka looks like a step down for Donaire from his last two opponents Jeffrey Mathebula and Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. Nishioka now looks like just another beatable fighter for Donaire to pick up a ‘W’ against.
Donaire’s knockout power has seemingly disappeared on him since he moved up to the super bantamweight division in 2012. He’s fought twice at this weight and not gotten close to knocking out anyway. It’s still too early to tell for sure if Donaire’s power has abandoned him for good, but you’d have to figure that he’s not going to knockout Nishioka on October 13th and that’ll be yet another sign that Donaire doesn’t have power at this weight.
Donaire will almost surely fight 33-year-old Jorge Arce after the Nishioka fight. Although the boxing fans have already made it clear that they want to see Donaire fight Rigondeaux as their number one choice for his next fight, Donaire likely will stay with the Arce fight. I have no doubts that Donaire will beat Arce and Nishioka, because I see both of those guys as old and beatable guys. What will be interesting is to see what Donaire does then. If he chooses Rigondeaux or Abner Mares then you got to give him credit for showing a lot of courage for taking those fights, but I just don’t see that happening. My guess is Donaire will find someone else to fight at super bantamweight or he’ll move up in weight to the featherweight division where there’s a lot of paper champions holding belts. There’s one good fighter in WBO featherweight champion Orlando Salido, but Donaire likely won’t take him on, because champions like Chris John and Billy Dib would be too much of an inviting target.
Rigondeaux has said he’ll be moving up in weight to follow Donaire if and when he moves up in weight in order to continue to try and force a fight, but I think he’ll be wasting his time if he does this. If Donaire wanted the fight Rigondeaux wouldn’t have to do anything because it would be offered to him. But since Donaire is continually moving the opposite direction you have to figure that the interest just isn’t there for Donaire in fighting the dangerous counter punching Rigondeaux.
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