How and why Donaire lost to Walters

By Al S. Mendoza

 

ALWAYS, there is a reason why a boxer loses or wins.

The better boxer almost always wins.

But what about in the case of the recent fight between Nonito Donaire Jr. and Nicholas Walters?

Because Donaire lost, did it mean Walters was the better of the two?

Could be, especially if we look at the record of Walters: 24 wins, no loss, before he fought Donaire in Carson City, California on October 19.

Easily, a fighter with an unbeaten record is formidable.

Thus, Floyd Mayweather Jr., unbeaten in 47 fights, is the prime example of Mr. Formidable.

You collect wins that many, you are virtually Superman.

With Mayweather’s record, he is two wins short of equalling Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 mark.

To those not in the know, Marciano is the only heavyweight world champion to retire unbeaten in 49 fights.

It is obvious that that is Mayweather’s target.

At age 37, Mayweather might just match Marciano’s record.

Mayweather has two fights left to complete his 6-fight, $100-million contract with Showtime, HBO’s No. 1 rival in pay-per-view market.

If you know your boxing, you will say one of those last two fights will pit Pacquiao against Mayweather.

That will most probably happen next year because in 2016, Mayweather, 39 by then God permitting, could be considered old fogey already.

Mayweather is 37 now but he still looks fit as a fiddle and is sprightly as ever.

I think he will still be bankable at 38 next year, with Pacquiao turning 36 on Dec. 17.

As for Donaire, age doesn’t seem to bother him yet as he is only 31.

It was his bad strategy—or bad attitude?—that led to his shocking knockout loss to Walters on Sunday.

Donaire was right to “test the waters” in the first two rounds and, in fact, he almost knocked out Walters in the second round.

When Donaire caught Walters with his killer left hook that wobbled the Jamaican’s knees, the bell butted in as the Filipino Flash was about to go for the jugular.

It was obvious that Donaire, inspired by that strong finish in the second round, wanted to finish Walters off quickly in the third.

But, alas, it was also obvious that Walters recovered strongly during the break, slugging it out smartly when the fight resumed.

And, in one wild brawl, Walters knocked down Donaire with an uppercut.

Instead of heeding his Dad’s command to “just box, be patient,” Donaire continued to engage Walters in a toe-to-toe combat.

Thus, unfortunately in the sixth, with Donaire losing the fourth and fifth rounds badly, Walters sprung an overhead right, sending the Filipino crashing to the canvas face first.

End of the fight.

“My fault,” said Donaire.  “I ignored my Dad’s counsel to just box and avoid a brawl.”

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