BOXING, NOT NONITO, IS BIGGEST LOSER
IF you continue to not understand why Nonito Donaire Jr. lost to Guillermo Rigondeaux, it is probably because you are the remaining bold believers of the truthfulness of the sport. Reform your views, fellers. Boxing’s bastion isn’t honesty anymore. Anarchy has supplanted order.
Judges gave Timothy Bradley a dubious points victory in a recent fight with Manny Pacquiao.
Before that, a certain Ortiz got himself knocked out not fighting Mayweather but arguing a point with a referee.
Sunday in New York City, the referee warned Rigondeaux two times for holding Donaire’s neck.
The third time Rigondeaux did his foul move, the referee ignored it despite a boxing rule that says a third similar infraction would draw a point deduction.
Also, Rigondeaux never really fought and, instead, busied himself running, ducking and evading engagements.
Other referees would have stopped the fight to remind Rigondeaux he was in a boxing match, not in a dancing competition.
As a result of Rigondeaux’s boring repertoire, the crowd booed him starting the fifth.
If the booing was also directed at the ineptness of the referee, he deserved it.
Aggressive most of the way, Donaire threw punches more often than the Cuban defector now living in Miami.
And although Rigondeaux was really quick and slippery, Donaire had still appeared in total control.
One shot landed smack on the face of Rigondeaux, the Filipino Flash’s short left sending The Jackal crashing to the canvas in the 10th.
Rigondeaux would get up shaken, and there was no doubt that blast had clinched for Donaire the fight after 12 rounds. Not quite. Shockingly, the judges gave the nod to Rigondeaux on horrendous scores of 114-113, 115-112 and 116-111.
Maybe, the three stooges watched another fight?
While it was true that Rigondeaux won three of the last four rounds, still Donaire clearly emerged the victor because of that 10th-round knockdown.
For sure, the New York robbery would hurt Donaire, but the biggest loser was boxing. Again.
When a runner in the ring and not in the oval wins, something’s terribly wrong with the sport.