Donaire returns to the ring

Donaire returns to the ring
Mark E. Ortega
Martinez News-Gazette
November 7, 2013


San Leandro, Calif., boxer Nonito Donaire returns to the ring on Saturday in a new weight division, but will look across the ring at a familiar foe while doing so.

Donaire (31-2, 20 knockouts) is coming off an April defeat to Guillermo Rigondeaux, his first loss in almost a decade. Donaire was dealing with a slew of personal matters, including his wife Rachel being pregnant with their first child, who was born a few months ago.

Now refocused, Donaire will face Vic Darchinyan (39-5-1, 28 KOs) in a 126-pound fight that will be part of a triple header televised by HBO. These two last met in July of 2007, where the five-to-one underdog Donaire knocked out Darchinyan in the fifth round with a wicked check hook. That victory launched Donaire, who won 13 straight across four weight divisions prior to the loss to Rigondeaux.

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Twenty-Five Favorites For the Future, Part I

Twenty-Five Favorites For the Future, Part I
Mark E. Ortega
Queensberry-Rules.com
January 4, 2012

Don't mistake this list as one to bank future successes of any of these fighters on, though I have faith that more than a handful of them will break through to the top level of the sport. No, what this list serves as is my 25 favorite prospects that I will be keeping an eye on in 2012 and beyond. What this means is the rubric is more than just in-ring ability. It takes into account whether or not they likely will emerge as big time ticket sellers, as determined by their fighting styles and personalities, among other things. One thing you can count on is this list features quite a number of names you won’t see elsewhere.

Sadam Ali, welterweight, 23 years old, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A. [14-0, 8 KOs] 
The quick-fisted Ali was the first Arab-American fighter to box in the Olympics when he made the U.S. team in 2008. Since turning pro in January of 2009, the sharp punching Ali has yet to face a real test. He may be a bit undersized at welterweight and would probably find more success at 140 when he steps up his level of competition. After encountering managerial problems early in his career, Ali has begun to guide his own career. It will be interesting to see how Ali’s plans of getting to the top will work out without a major guiding influence. At 23 years old, Ali has a fair amount of time to get there.

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