Photo by Dr Ed De La Vega
Las Vegas – Nonito “ The Filipino Flash” Donaire stunned 4805 in attendance at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday night when he stopped a Mexican champion, Fernando Montiel (44-3-2,34KO’S) with a breathtaking one punch left hook in the second round of a championship bout that was scheduled for twelve. Donaire won WBO and WBC bantamweight titles. Fernando Montiel was sent to the hospital for observations. No one in the arena complained that the fight was too short.
Nonito dominated the first round pressing the action, taller faster slicker it was all going his way. Action got more competitive in the second stanza as Mexican champion pressed forward until sudden and violent conclusion when Nonito countered a right hand with a blistering left hook that sent Montiel into a never never land. Fernando Montiel never saw the punch and was out before he hit the canvass on which he laid listlessly with legs quivering. Miraculously, still out on his feet Montiel got up. Referee Russell Mora allowed the fight to go on and Nonito went for the kill landing two more clean blows that forced the ref to stop the contest at 2:25 of the second stanza. A spectacular left hook one punch knock out by Nonito Donaire was a pugilistic masterpiece that will be discussed by fans and pundits for years to come. “That was the hardest punch I ever threw in my life,” said Donaire at a post fight press conference;” I was really surprised he got up, because I put everything in that punch.”
When Nonito separated Vic Darchinyan from his senses and his title in 2007 with similar type of left hook, some pundits (Darchinyan included) exclaimed that it was a lucky punch. This time the jury is out with a verdict that Donaire’s left hook is a lethal weapon.” Darchinyan punch was pretty sweet,” said Donaire (26-1,18KO):” But this one was perfectly timed. I knew where he was going to be. It was the hardest punch ever.” But aside from obvious power it was a precision bomb that exploded right on the temple of unsuspecting Montiel and ended the night in dramatic fashion. “ I am still in shock!” exclaimed veteran trainer Rudy Hernandez hours after the fight.
In other action:
In a highly anticipated rematch Philadelphia welterweight Mike” Machine Gun” Jones defeated highly popular Mexican brawler Jesus Sot Karass by unanimous decision. After twelve bloody rounds all three judges scored it for Jones: 115-113,116-112,117-111.
Undefeated lightweight, former Olympian, Mickey Bey(16-0-1,8KO’S) from Cleveland , Ohio found himself in a very tough fight against a hard charging and punching prospect from Dallas, Texas, Jose Hernandez( 10-4-1,4KO’S)After eight hard fought rounds judges declared the fight a majority draw with Lisa Giampa scoring it 78-74 for Bey while two other judges had it 76-76 .
Welterweights Mark Melligen (21-2,14KO’S) from Philippines and Gabriel Martinez (27-2-1, 14 KO’S) staged a ten round war. All three judges scored it for Melligen: 99-91 twice and 98-92
After facing adversity in a form of left hook that almost dropped him on the seat of his pants Cuban welterweight prospect from Miami, Florida, Yordenis Ugas (6-0,3KO’S) out boxed Carlos Musquez (3-4-3,3 KO’S) from Sacramento, California over six rounds.All three judges scored it the same 60-54 in favor of Ugas.
Unbeaten light welterweight from Denver, Colorado, Mike Alvarado (29-0,21KO) stopped Englishman, Dean Harrison (16-5,5KO’S) within three rounds. Harrison’s corner ended the night at the conclusion of third stanza after their charge took a severe beating.
Born in Odessa, Ukraine in 1962, Igor Frank,
Socalboxing's Blog 