“The Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire ascended in weight class and defeated erstwhile junior featherweight titlist Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. by a split decision to claim the previously vacant 122-pound WBO super bantamweight belt last night at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Donaire (28-1, 18 KOs), also a past IBF and IBO world flyweight champ who recently signed a new contract with promoter Bob Arum and Top Rank, has now emerged victorious in 27 consecutive fights since he suffered a unanimous decision loss to Rosendo Sanchez in his second professional bout in March 2001.
Donaire, who showed his bloodied and potentially broken left hand after the match, told ESPN.com his injury hindered his ability to scrap.
Still, “The Filipino Flash” praised Vazquez Jr. for his gutsy performance.
"Vazquez was tougher than I expected," said Donaire, 29. "I couldn't find my rhythm, and I hurt my hand somewhere between the second and fourth rounds. I could only move it a little bit."
Donaire floored Vazquez (21-2-1, 18 KOs) in the ninth round with a left uppercut followed by a thudding left hook.
Unfortunately, that combination mangled the hand of The Ring’s fourth best pound-for-pound boxer in the world.
"When I knocked him down in the ninth round, that was the end of the hand," Donaire told Dan Rafael of ESPN.com. "I was in agony."
Roger "Pit" Perron is a venerable boxing trainer from Brockton (Mass.) who now works with Mike and Rich Cappiello at their gym, Cappiello Brothers Boxing and Training.
Perron is confident that Donaire will prove to be a lasting force in the world of prizefighting.
“Donaire has it all,” said Perron, 75, who worked with International Boxing Hall of Famer Marvelous Marvin Hagler at the Petronelli Brothers Gym. “The guy was made to be a champion.”
Jeff Lyons possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of “The Sweet Science” and he entirely agrees with Perron’s assessment.
“Nonito is a once in a generation fighter,” said Lyons, 32, a resident of South Boston. “People take him for granted because he’s so light.”
Even with a badly wounded fist, Nonito Donaire again validated he is “made to be a champion.”
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