Guillermo Rigondeaux has gone after Nonito Donaire in the media, responding to Donaire's statements dismissing him as a future opponent. (Photo by Tom Casino/Showtime)
Nonito Donaire isn't really having the best of days. While he should have all of his attention focused on his February 4 bout with Wilfredo Vazquez Jr, he's instead stuck in a developing war of words with Guillermo Rigondeaux, who has thrown his first live grenade into the mix.
This morning we talked about Donaire trying to reason his way out of fighting Rigondeaux by noting that he's boring and not a fighter that fight fans want to see. Later in the day, it got worse as Donaire kept trying to push the issue after reaction to his statements wasn't so great.
There's a growing little buzz here saying that Nonito Donaire doesn't want anything to do with Guillermo Rigondeaux, and it's hard to figure a way to get around that. He's basically saying he won't fight him, which as I mentioned before, basically makes people want to see the fight.
Here's what Rigondeaux said in response to Donaire's statements:
"If he doesn't want a Narvaez fight, I will agree to a 15-foot ring. This guy is not a real man, he's a traitor to Top Rank. Stop hiding behind your manager and your wife, I'm ready to fight in the summer. If Top Rank allows me to get a fight with this traitor, I will put him to sleep. After I get done with this traitor, he'll be shooting pictures permanently."
The last part is a dig at Donaire, who took a few dates as a ringside photographer during his 2011 beef with Top Rank, after he tried to escape his contract and sign with Golden Boy Promotions. Ultimately, an arbitrator ruled that his contract was still valid, and eventually he kissed and made up with Top Rank, signing a new deal.
It's a nice little bait from Rigondeaux, attacking a vulnerable spot for Donaire. The entire situation put Donaire in a pretty harsh light and earned him no points with much of anybody.
Donaire briefly responded via his official Facebook page:
Surprised that a 2x Olympian and newly crowned champ resorts to elementary school trash talking. We are in boxing not WWE #FIGHTWITHYOURFISTSNOTYOURMOUTH
Unfortunately for Donaire, Rigondeaux is attempting to fight with his fists, and his response is, "I don't want to because it's boring." If this were Around the Horn, Donaire would have just lost four points.
0 recs | 23 comments
all I can say is…OUCH. but good for rigondeaux. strike while the iron is red hot. coming off a big win & on the heels of donaire’s earlier statements and you have a guy w/newfound buzz. outside of flat out not signing a contract on the table, I dunno how donaire could look any worse (and consequently how rigo could look any better).
KidSleez - January 25, 2012 via Android app
Donaire also gave another response and said that Rigondeaux was clearly scared of Nishioka. Right now, this is looking for all heaven like a duck – and not a particularly well-disguised one, either.
Oli Goldstein - January 25, 2012
that was my point earlier in one of the other stories on what donaire said. there’s ways to duck a fight…namely claim you want the fight & then use your promoter to avoid at all costs.
KidSleez - January 25, 2012 via Android app
Or to say,
“I’ll fight whoever my promoter outs in front of me. I only want to fight the best.” And then, never mention names again until a fight is signed. That’s the proper way to duck.
Pops Daniels - January 25, 2012
Yep. There’s also the good ol’ fashioned “he’s asking for too much money” card. Donaire hasn’t even waited to get creative, here.
Oli Goldstein - January 25, 2012
Cant forget the classic – “he hasn’t earned a shot at my title”. Have to say all together this is a clever move on Rigondeaux’s part as he’ll probably net himself greater media coverage and thanks to Donaire’s not so clever handling of the whole affair, may even get a shot at him, seeing as it’s now created an interest in the fight.
Counterpunch - January 25, 2012
BURRRNNNN!!! lol
Wow Rigondeaux just killed him. And the Donaire answer was weak, of course he wants to fight!
boxplatino.com - January 25, 2012
I find it interesting that a man who has been labelled as “traitor” ever since he left Cuba, would resort to using that same insult for something as superficial as allegiance to a boxing promoter.
While I agree Donaire is running scared, I do not agree with others who think that Rigondeaux’s response was “inspired”.
Apprentice - January 25, 2012
I’m hoping this was a mistranslation, myself. It’s a weird usage of the word in any case.
El Destruyo - January 25, 2012
Actually it’s a perfectly normal usage of the word. The guy using it makes it “weird.” I guess. I don’t really care either way. Maybe Rigondeaux isn’t that hung up on being called a traitor.
Scott Christ - January 25, 2012
I wouldn’t be so sure about that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0ZVbgDG67Q&feature=player_detailpage#t=213s
Apprentice - January 25, 2012
Sounded pretty agitated to me.
Apprentice - January 25, 2012
I mean not so hung up that he can’t bring himself to use the word. In this context, it is just a word. As you say, it’s about something superficial and in the grand scheme of things, fairly meaningless.
Scott Christ - January 25, 2012
a mistranslation is certainly possible… although within the context doesn’t seem likely
Apprentice - January 25, 2012
communist regime
Scott Christ - January 25, 2012
I doubt these are Rigondeaux’s words anyway. They read just like the trash talk that Erislandy Lara is supposedly delivering every week on Boxing Scene too. Wouldn’t surprise me if all of their statements are coming from Luis DeCubas or someone from that promotional outfit.
bachwards - January 26, 2012
Probably, yes. It’s just a “statement from Rigondeaux.” I’m sure it’s DeCubas, or a DeCubas assistant or whatever.
Scott Christ - January 26, 2012
no, i think is not a mistranslation, but the word “traitor” doesn´t fit there, none of the two is a traitor to me…
EL CIERTO (VEN) - January 26, 2012
Rigo is doing a good job promoting himself
And that certainly can’t hurt his future sights/purses.
pakinpower - January 25, 2012
the one who is promoting rigo is nonito with those statements….
EL CIERTO (VEN) - January 26, 2012
Nice Comeback from Rigo
but I highly doubt Donaire is afraid of Rigo.
Frank Lee - January 26, 2012
maybe they really do want this fight. They’re certainly generating more interest in it than would have been thought possible.
BoxAnne - January 26, 2012
it looks worse and worse for nonito..just say im concentrating on vasquez and say nuttin else..
Vicmatic1 - January 26, 2012
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