Employee or Employer?

It's no secret that Nonito Donaire didn't train for the Rigondeaux fight properly. He barley made weight (a weight class he moved up to), trained with his Robert Garcia via telephone, was out late two days before the fight and never seemed committed. The disconnect between trainer and fighter was painfully obvious during the fight. This was a disgraceful preparation for the biggest fight of Donaire's career. Robert Garcia has to take some responsibility for the way Donaire looked but Donaire should bear the brunt of the criticism and in my opinion is ultimately responsible for a terrible performance. I've always felt that when a fighter hires a trainer that trainer is now their boss, consultant and trustee. The fighter relinquishes decision making and executes a plan designed by the trainer. Donaire seems to have fallen in love with his power, and thought it would carry him through this fight. He was mistaken. My question is how you guys feel? Should Garcia travel to the Bay Area to train? He runs a gym in Oxnard that he trains all of his fighters at and Donaire has trained there in the past. My feeling is if you hire a trainer that has a gym and a stable you go where he is. That's how the guy trains so that's what you signed up for. If you don't like it or want more attention you can always hire someone else. Rent a house, put your wife up near Oxnard and get to work. Garcia, in my opinion should also mandate his fighters to train at his facility if that's where he wants to work, fights like this will only sully his reputation. Donaire missed a huge opportunity in his preparation with Rigo, who I think he could have beaten had he trained properly. If Donaire isn't fully focused he should give up the sport.

I agree totally and that's exactly what happened.

A 110% prepared Donaire still losses to Rigo. Rigos style is just all wrong for Donaire. Danaire can't fight on the inside so when he tries to box with Rigo he's getting hit with single left hands all night. Donaire didn't look like he trained and it has more to do with him being matched up so soft over the years, he probably didn't think he had too. He thinks he's gonna Knock out everyone he fights. He was like Damon Wayne's character in that comedy movie in the 90s where he didn't train and came inside the ring with a fat gut lol Donaire had a gut, it was odd lol Donaire should fight Mickey Garcia

rigos style is terrible for donaire... perfect example of styles make fights... you got a "runner" against a guy who needs to set his feet to throw power shots... rigos "running" doesnt allow donaire to tee off at all so he doesnt land anything of consequence. if they fought in a 10x10 ring donaire beats him 100 times out of 100 but in a normal ring he really doesnt have much of a chance unless he changes his style completely

Diego408 wrote:A 110% prepared Donaire still losses to Rigo. Rigos style is just all wrong for Donaire. Danaire can't fight on the inside so when he tries to box with Rigo he's getting hit with single left hands all night. Donaire didn't look like he trained and it has more to do with him being matched up so soft over the years, he probably didn't think he had too. He thinks he's gonna Knock out everyone he fights. He was like Damon Wayne's character in that comedy movie in the 90s where he didn't train and came inside the ring with a fat gut lol Donaire had a gut, it was odd lol Donaire should fight Mickey Garcia

Disagree, Donaire scored a KD when they mixed it up. Didn't use his size advantage at all. Didn't box and didn't have a game plan. I'm impressed with Rigo but even he said, you cant beat me one punch at a time. He was surprised how untrained Donaire was. I'll bet you 1,000 bucks straight up via paypal that Donaire beats him if they fight again and throw in an extra 500 if theres a KO.

hardcorebee24 wrote:

Diego408 wrote:A 110% prepared Donaire still losses to Rigo. Rigos style is just all wrong for Donaire. Danaire can't fight on the inside so when he tries to box with Rigo he's getting hit with single left hands all night. Donaire didn't look like he trained and it has more to do with him being matched up so soft over the years, he probably didn't think he had too. He thinks he's gonna Knock out everyone he fights. He was like Damon Wayne's character in that comedy movie in the 90s where he didn't train and came inside the ring with a fat gut lol Donaire had a gut, it was odd lol Donaire should fight Mickey Garcia

Disagree, Donaire scored a KD when they mixed it up. Didn't use his size advantage at all. Didn't box and didn't have a game plan. I'm impressed with Rigo but even he said, you cant beat me one punch at a time. He was surprised how untrained Donaire was. I'll bet you 1,000 bucks straight up via paypal that Donaire beats him if they fight again and throw in an extra 500 if theres a KO.

I'd take that bet if I wasn't a broke ass college student lol but I'd put a friendly wager of 150$ (something reasonable for me) with you if they were to scrap it up again. In a rematch, this fight would take place at Featherweight, which will even up the odds because it will favor Doanire. Donaires cant make 122 anymore, Rigo is a bit small for the weight. Rigo doesn't have any other opponents to face that will give him a pay day, so a Donaire rematch is highly possible. I think its a fight that will happen eventually, but certainly not next. To be honest in the 10th round, Donaire got lucky. It was a punch Rigo didn't see and his balance wasn't all there. Rigo still controlled that round after the KD. Its Donaires style that doesn't work. Donaire doesnt throw punches in bunches. He throws hay makers and tries to counter. That doesn't work against Rigo. You forget he struggled with Wilfredo Vazquez and that African Fighter last year. There is holes in Donaires game. The only shot Donaire has in beating Rigo is getting lucky by landing a KO blow.

Diego408 wrote:

hardcorebee24 wrote:

Diego408 wrote:A 110% prepared Donaire still losses to Rigo. Rigos style is just all wrong for Donaire. Danaire can't fight on the inside so when he tries to box with Rigo he's getting hit with single left hands all night. Donaire didn't look like he trained and it has more to do with him being matched up so soft over the years, he probably didn't think he had too. He thinks he's gonna Knock out everyone he fights. He was like Damon Wayne's character in that comedy movie in the 90s where he didn't train and came inside the ring with a fat gut lol Donaire had a gut, it was odd lol Donaire should fight Mickey Garcia

Disagree, Donaire scored a KD when they mixed it up. Didn't use his size advantage at all. Didn't box and didn't have a game plan. I'm impressed with Rigo but even he said, you cant beat me one punch at a time. He was surprised how untrained Donaire was. I'll bet you 1,000 bucks straight up via paypal that Donaire beats him if they fight again and throw in an extra 500 if theres a KO.

I'd take that bet if I wasn't a broke ass college student lol but I'd put a friendly wager of 150$ (something reasonable for me) with you if they were to scrap it up again. In a rematch, this fight would take place at Featherweight, which will even up the odds because it will favor Doanire. Donaires cant make 122 anymore, Rigo is a bit small for the weight. Rigo doesn't have any other opponents to face that will give him a pay day, so a Donaire rematch is highly possible. I think its a fight that will happen eventually, but certainly not next. To be honest in the 10th round, Donaire got lucky. It was a punch Rigo didn't see and his balance wasn't all there. Rigo still controlled that round after the KD. Its Donaires style that doesn't work. Donaire doesnt throw punches in bunches. He throws hay makers and tries to counter. That doesn't work against Rigo. You forget he struggled with Wilfredo Vazquez and that African Fighter last year. There is holes in Donaires game. The only shot Donaire has in beating Rigo is getting lucky by landing a KO blow.

If that bet is good for you I'll be happy to take your cash.

concerning your original question about trainers and trainees. i understand why garcia trains donaire. its for money and fame. i mean wasnt it donaire who made him get trainer of the year last year? most people dont even know about the training situation so it doesnt really affect him. i think that donaire is an idiot for letting somebody train him over the phone. i wouldnt leave my gym if i were garcia.

i do think that it was a bad style match up for donaire but i think that if they had a rematch that donaire might be able to pull it off. i would still put my money on rigo though.

powerpuncher wrote:concerning your original question about trainers and trainees. i understand why garcia trains donaire. its for money and fame. i mean wasnt it donaire who made him get trainer of the year last year? most people dont even know about the training situation so it doesnt really affect him. i think that donaire is an idiot for letting somebody train him over the phone. i wouldnt leave my gym if i were garcia.

i do think that it was a bad style match up for donaire but i think that if they had a rematch that donaire might be able to pull it off. i would still put my money on rigo though.

this isn't the first time it happened. gabe montoya remarked a while ago that something many lazy boxing writers didn't know is garcia isn't actually training donaire. He is just basically the fight week cornerman.

couple of thoughts. 1-donaire goes up in weight, but keeps struggling to make weight (while looking softer and softer). 2-donaire is 30. I'm not saying he is done, but he very well may have passed his physical peak.

remember when we were all saying for those years after the vic win that he was wasting his prime fighting nobodies? then he started fighting a little more again to get his name out there and then he loses. his career isnt over but he did waste a lot of it and i dont really see him ever being very big again.

powerpuncher wrote:remember when we were all saying for those years after the vic win that he was wasting his prime fighting nobodies? then he started fighting a little more again to get his name out there and then he loses. his career isnt over but he did waste a lot of it and i dont really see him ever being very big again.

Why because he lost to a top p4p fighter? A guy that may very well be the best in the division and arguably the best amateur fighter ever? Damn fickle fans boxing has.

heaven forbid.lose 1 fight and he wont be very big again.his next fight will be showcased big on hbo and will generate plenty of buzz.fighters that are fan friendly in style and donaire is one of them will be big so to speak after a loss or two.i guess rios is done in the big department and so is victor Ortiz.right.wlad are you reading this.

im saying that because he is getting older and i dont know how many more great fights he has in him. also, i dont know which great fighters he is going to fight.

powerpuncher wrote:im saying that because he is getting older and i dont know how many more great fights he has in him. also, i dont know which great fighters he is going to fight.

...there are no great fighters for him to fight.he didn't take a beating so if he adapts to a few things he will be ok for some more fights.

dmar5143 wrote:

powerpuncher wrote:im saying that because he is getting older and i dont know how many more great fights he has in him. also, i dont know which great fighters he is going to fight.

...there are no great fighters for him to fight.he didn't take a beating so if he adapts to a few things he will be ok for some more fights.

he still has a possibility of a mares fight or de leon if he beats mares. im saying this because donaire is talking about moving up to feather. i think that he will lose again to someone like that sooner than later. like i said before, the rigo fight didnt really change my opinion of donaire. i never thought he was as great as the media made him out to be.

Agree with what Hardcore originally posted. I put most of the blame on Donaire. He's the guy who has to step in the ring and his career and health is on the line. Garcia should mandate that his fighters train at his gym. I get that some fighters want to be comfortable and around their family, but the job is to fight. Being around hungry fighters can give you more sparring partners, more energy, and let you keep that edge. You have to show up every day because you see the guys who want your spot every day.