LAS VEGAS, NV - Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire Jr. retained his IBF and IBO Flyweight title by scoring a technical knockout victory against Moruti Mthalane of South Africa last Saturday, November 1, in Las Vegas.
Donaire threw a left cross that opened a nasty cut on Mthalane’s left eyelid in the sixth round of the scheduled 12-round bout.
The crowd of 5,400 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino booed loudly when Referee Joe Cortez, upon the advice of the ringside doctor, stopped the fight. Donaire let out a loud yell and jumped in the air in excitement once Cortez signified the bout was over.
"I threw a left [hand punch] and boom! That was it," said Donaire after the fight. "I called the referee because I knew that the fight was going to stop. The punch was right on the money. The blood was going directly into his eyes and there was no way to fix it. There’s no need to punish him because he couldn’t see me every time I went to his left side…I called the referee, and I knew he was going to stop the fight."
The mandatory title defense fight against Mthlane ended an 11-month layoff for Donaire.
The 25-year-old Donaire hadn’t stepped inside the ring since his last title defense victory against Luis Maldonado in Connecticut last December.
The long layoff didn’t seem to affect Donaire. Making his Top Rank debut, he said he was more worried about fighting an "unknown" boxer.
Coming into this fight, little was known about the No. 1 contender Mthalane, who had staged most of his fights in his hometown of South Africa.
Donaire controlled the fight early, cautiously working the jab and trying to find the correct distance to land his punches. Mthlane seemed to have the longer reach and used his long arms to block many of Donaire’s punches.
After suffering a broken pinky in the second round, Donaire switched from an orthodox to a southpaw stance and occasionally dropped his hands to bait the South African fighter to be more offensive. Later in the round, Donaire landed a perfectly timed left hook to the body that made Mthlane wince in pain.
Mthalane’s jabs appeared to be scoring well, landing flush on the right side of Donaire’s face. Meanwhile, Donaire waited patiently for his counterpunch opportunities, occasionally responding to Mthlane’s lunging jabs by landing a few hard body shots and left hooks to the head.
In the opening minute of the sixth round, a Donaire straight left punch opened a cut in Mthalane’s left eye. The referee brought Mthalane to the ringside doctor and, within a few seconds, the doctor took one look at Mthalane’s eye, shook his head and signaled for the referee to stop the fight. All three ringside judges had scored Donaire ahead before the stoppage.
"I knew he [Mthalane] was going to be difficult because he was very defensive," said Donaire, who had bruises around the right side of his face. "That’s what I was worried about because he didn’t open himself up, and I would wait for that but I proved past that and made things happen the way I wanted."
Donaire said he suffered the broken pinky because of his boxing gloves.
"The gloves were really horrible. Every time I punched it wouldn’t hit the knuckles it would hit my fingers," said Donaire, who had a splint on his left pinky. "That’s the reason why I had to switch my stances."
The win raises Donaire’s record to 21-1 13 KOs. It also sets up a number of possible showdowns with many potential contenders.
On the same night when two potential future opponents won, Donaire is ready for any and all comers.
WBC Interim Flyweight Champion Jorge Arce scored a technical knockout out victory against Isidro Garcia in the same Top Rank card as Donaire and Australian-based Armenian Vic Darchinyan knocked out Christian Mijares to unify to the Super Flyweight title at the Home Depot Center in Carson. Mexican Fernando Montiel, who won in a November 2 bout, is also in the mix as a possible opponent for Donaire.
"Just let me know when," said Donaire. "It’s up to my promoter to set up the fights but I’ll be ready anytime and anywhere." (www.asianjournal.com)
(Published November 5, 2008 p.A4 LAMDWK)
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