How does he do if he faced: Rodolfo Martinez Paul Ferreri Alfonso Zamora Alberto Davila Andres Hernandez Wilfredo Gomez Lupe Pintor
Gomez would beat the living shit outta Donaire and stop him at some point, and I think Pintor decisions him. Donaire would beat the rest. Davila would give him problems, but ultimately Donaire has too much firepower for Davila. Donaire vs Zamora would be VERY FUN while it lasts, but Nonito wins that shootout by virtue of being faster and having a much better chin.
Its probably just more fair to ask how a Donaire-Zarate matchup goes. Prime Donaire is a H2H beast at 118. Jofre would be the only one that Donaire is truly overmatched against. Jofre is just too complete, could better Donaire in firepower, and had a great chin. I see zero chance of Donaire beating Jofre. Olivares and Zarate? It gets more interesting. Don't get me wrong, Donaire is an underdog against both, but neither Olivares nor Zarate were steal-chinned, so Nonito is live. Oh yeah, I also Harada is really wrong for Donaire, and beats him pretty wide.
Its not until 122 where Donaire starts to fall off a cliff. Cause at that weight, he'd be overmatched against a Gomez, Barrera, Fenech, Morales, or Pac.
Martinez would do decently, but it's an eventuality that he gets nailed. Ferreri would give him a good go IMO. A slippery southpaw who's very negative is precisely the thing that Donaire hated. I don't think Paul wins, but he'd frustrate Donaire. He showed some very good moves vs Owen and Zarate IMO. Zamora would get absolutely blown out, I think. He's gonna walk down Donaire, throwing wildly, with his chin in the air. Good night son. Davila gives Donaire a good go as well. The pretty technical skills and excellent footwork can definitely annoy and confuse Donaire. Eventually though, he'd again fall pray to being inferior physically. Donaire stoppage - possibly down on the cards, although maybe not. I think a close decision for Pintor and an annihilation job by Gomez is more or less bang on the money. Pintor would win clearer though.
I think Donaire was a better puncher than Jofre, but otherwise I completely agree. Forget Donaire winning that, it ain't happening. I think Donaire has a better chance of beating Olivares than he does Zarate. Olivares would absolutely be favoured, because he was so much better, but I don't doubt for one second that if he switches off for one second during an exchange, Donaire walks way with his arm raised. That said, I tend to think Olivares doesn't bother trying to knock Donaire out from the start, and boxes like he did in the Hafey rematch. I actually think Harada is a pretty good match-up for Donaire - although FH would still win very clearly. Donaire's countering style, massive frame and one punch power is awful for Harada. That said, he dealt with two of the best punchers in bantamweight history, and did so by using slight defence and brilliant footwork. Donaire would be flummoxed IMO. I'll find my post on Zarate vs Donaire from ESB in a minute.
Zarate was an absolute beast. He was a nasty Tito-esque puncher and an incredibly skilled technician. What he did to competent technicians in Davila and Martinez was frightful, and the Zamora fight was a beastly showing vs a monster at the weight. You don't go 52-0 with 51 KOs without being good at everything and an absolute animal. Technique wise, he was one of the best 'proper' punchers I've ever seen. He was just got perfect form on his shots, and was excellent at parrying and slipping shots, and as far as ring-cutting goes, you don't have to look much further than Zarate to find a perfect example. The only real issue he has is that his chin isn't unbreakable. Even as good as Gomez was, he shouldn't have had it that easy. Donaire is one of the best athletes ever at the lower weights. Massive at the weight, ridiculously fast hands, colossal power, very well coordinated with a great chin and bags of stamina. His ability and dexterity on his feet were massively underrated aspects of his game. He thrived, primarily, vs three types of fighters. He loves off-beat, rhythmless sluggers who amble in and look to overwhelm you either power, strength or workrate (like Darchinyan); hyper aggressive swarmers who look to get inside or underneath and suffocate you with pressure (like maybe Arce, definitely like Oubaali); and the steadily aggressive boxer-punchers who fight coming forward, working behind the jab and normally somewhat upright (like Inoue, Sydorenko or Montiel). Zarate fits that third mold, and I think that's the one Donaire's best suited for. It's easier to time someone with a steadier rhythm, and easier to find someone who doesn't fight to remove your space. I think he'd be able to maybe spin off and set up a left hook; either by splitting a jab or tripwiring a cross. Definitely a possiblity. So Donaire isn't without chance, because he could find Zarate's chin and lay him out, but I think he'd lose a decision or get hurt late. Just to add^^, Zarate was also an incredible ring-general who was very difficult to win rounds against. Short of a 'lucky' punch, Donaire isn't winning IMO.
Does Donaire even make the weight? Alongside his fighting class he was also a good weight bully. The legends (and people close to it, like Pintor) still beat him imo tho, which just shows you how good they were.
