Three takes on Donaire-Vetyeka

The much-awaited WBA world featherweight title showdown between Nonito Donaire and Simpiwe Vetyeka of South Africa is just around the corner. In his second featherweight stint, Donaire will attempt to win a major world title in his fourth weight class, but standing on his way is a solid fighter in Vetyeka.

Will Donaire have his way in Macau on Saturday or Vetyeka will spoil his plans? Here are three different opinions as to how this fight will end.
 
 

Carlos Cinco, Cagebox.com boxing and MMA writer

Vetyeka is a certified banger. We know he can deliver a knockout punch and is physically strong with the way he manhandled Chris John in his last fight. This is an amazing test for the once elite talent that is Nonito Donaire, and it’s a perfect opportunity for us to see how much he has left.

Though he has not shown his true potential as of late, Donaire at his best is an absolute beast. He has speed that can blind opponents and a massive left hook that can decapitate.

Training with his father Nonito Sr. should bring him back to his roots and my guts tell me we’ll see one of his best performances to date. Vetyeka will be a solid challenge for the Filipino Flash, but I think we’ll see a new champ walk out of that ring. I have Nonito Donaire by stoppage between six to eight rounds.


Ted Lerner, ring announcer, play-by-play commentator, and writer

This is a marvelous matchup between two excellent warriors in their prime that should be considered “can’t miss boxing.” Both fighters have traveled long arduous roads to get to this point. Both fighters have a lot riding on the line and have a lot to prove. And you couldn’t ask for a much bigger stage than The Venetian in Macau.

Simpiwe Vetyeka’s entire life and boxing career has been a character builder all the way. He grew up poor in south Africa, old enough to know the scourge of apartheid. He’s fought all over the world and won in places like Mexico, Indonesia, Oklahoma and Australia, where, last December, he collected his biggest win to date, becoming the first to defeat Indonesia’s Chris John and taking his WBA featherweight title. I don’t expect the bright lights of Macau will faze Vetyeka.

However, this is the South African’s first fight after beating John, and it’s quite a step up in talent. Donaire has been one of boxing’s brighter stars in recent years, a breath of fresh air for the lower weights. But his brilliant career has always been nagged by, well, being in the lower weights where lack of name opponents often fail to grabs the attention of a jaded public. When he lost to Guillermo Rigondeaux in 2013, a lot of the air went out of Donaire’s balloon. Although he stopped Darchinyan in their rematch earlier this year, Donaire was admittedly not at his best.

It’s do-or-die time in Donaire’s career and I think this will spell the difference in favor of the Filipino. He’s been training his butt off in Manila, working on enhancing his speed and power and seems determined to put in a stellar performance.

It surely won’t be easy. Donaire is going to have to find his way inside. He’s going to have to take chances, and that comes with risk, especially against a wily veteran such as Vetyeka. By the way, the South African has never been stopped inside the distance.

But I think Donaire is up to the task. He saw what Pacquiao did with Bradley and he wants to try to equal or top that performance.

I would suggest putting this fight on your must-see list as it’s going to be a back and forth affair, with intrigue, drama, action and strategy. I see Donaire putting in a career-defining performance and being the first to stop Vetekya inside the distance and grabbing another world title belt.

 

 
 

JM Siasat, boxing writer, GMA News Online

I see this as a tough and competitive fight for both boxers. Donaire possess dynamite in both hands and Vetyeka is a heavy-handed fighter in his own right. Style-wise, Vetyeka is an opponent Donaire is supposed to beat. The way Vetyeka leaves himself open during and after his attacks is a key point for Donaire as he can time and counter the guy with big shots during those sequences. Add the fact that Vetyeka has a bad habit of keeping his right hand low, leaving himself constantly open for Donaire's killer left hook, spells trouble for the WBA world champion.

With all that being said, Vetyeka is an opponent Donaire can't take for granted. In Donaire's last fight, Darchinyan managed to fracture his face and Vetyeka undoubtedly has the punching power to do the same, if not worse. Following Donaire's lopsided defeat against Guillermo Rigondeaux last year, Donaire immediately looked like a diminished star in his next fight. Donaire was gun-shy and losing on the scorecards against Darchinyan before the stoppage.

Vetyeka on the other hand, is coming from his best victory ever, which helps in boosting his confidence going into the fight. At this point of their career, I just feel like Vetyeka is the hungrier fighter, that will show and add a lot come fight time.

I see Vetyeka tirelessly pressuring and taking the fight to Donaire with body punches and hard shots on top. Vetyeka's money shot is his right hand and as history showed against opponents like Vasquez Jr., Donaire has always been vulnerable to it, thus I expect the champion to repeatedly land damaging shots. Take momentum into consideration and I see Vetyeka clearly winning this fight by decision if not by stoppage in the late rounds. - AMD, GMA News



JM Siasat is a sports journalist based in Manila, Philippines. He can be reached at jmsiasat@ymail.com. Follow him on Twitter @jmsiasat