Time for Amnat, Donaire to depart with dignity
Two of the region’s biggest stars likely reached the end of the road last weekend as they were comprehensively beaten by younger rivals. First, on Saturday afternoon in Bangkok, Amnat Ruenroeng — one of Thailand’s most accomplished overseas operators — was devastatingly knocked out by compatriot Nawaphon Por Chokchai.
Hours later, over in Belfast, Nonito Donaire of the Philippines lost almost every round of his distance fight against Northern Ireland’s Carl Frampton.
Amnat may have eventually suffered a harrowing defeat, but he went down in a blaze of glory, playing his part in a superflyweight slugfest that featured speed, power and desire in large doses.
He got off to a flying start, his blazing handspeed bedazzling Nawaphon and banking the first two rounds.
It was uncharacteristic stuff from Amnat, who has always been technically excellent but sometimes faced criticisms that his awkward style does not make for good TV.
This time he stood toe-to-toe with the younger man, and it was thrilling stuff.
But Nawaphon soaked it up and pushed forward incessantly. His unrelenting pressure took a toll on the older man, and his own punches found greater success with each passing round.
The breakthrough came in the fifth round when an attack discombobulated Amnat, turning him around and leaving him vulnerable for a devastating follow-up.
As entertaining as it was, Amnat’s approach was ill-advised. His trademark elusiveness and spoiling tactics would have served him better against the stronger but more straightforward approach of Nawaphon.
Then again, it may not have been a matter of choice. Clearly Amnat’s handspeed remains formidable, but at 38 he perhaps no longer has the legs for a fleet-footed performance.
That would explain why he fought up close with a powerful competitor 12 years his junior — and paid the price.
Amnat has been one of Thailand’s finest boxing ambassadors, and his wins over Kazuto Ioka in Japan and Zou Shiming in Macau are the stuff of legend.
But he has now lost three of his past four contests and is at an age where it will be impossible to arrest the decline. Better that he quits now, on the back of a brave and exciting performance.
Filipino hero Donaire is an even more accomplished athlete. In his late 20s he rode high in the pound-for-pound rankings and all told is a multiple-time belt holder across four weight divisions.
But now he is 35 and the regression of his talents has been evident for several years.
Even when he was still winning consistently, from 2012 or so it was with less pizazz.
He would still dominate, but not dazzle, and then the losses started coming.
Guillermo Rigondeux out-slicked him in 2013. Nicholas Walters overpowered him 18 months later. Rank underdog Jessie Magdaleno outsped him in 2016.
Donaire still had enough to beat B-level fighters, and in doing so between these defeats he kept himself in the A-list conversation.
But Saturday’s performance against Frampton was sad to watch. He was slow of hand and foot, easy to hit, and while he undoubtedly retains his vaunted power —Frampton attested to the fact in his post-fight interview — his reflexes have dimmed to the point where he can’t capitalise on that more than occasionally.
Donaire blamed the flat performance on featherweight being a division too high for him. He is, after all, a former flyweight. There may be some truth to this, but there has been mounting evidence of his decline for years, regardless of weight. Dropping a few pounds will not arrest that.
No, the sun has set on two of Southeast Asia’s brightest boxing talents. Let’s hope they see the light and depart the sport with dignity.