Donaire stops Montiel to take bantamweight titles
LAS VEGAS, Nevada (AFP) – Filipino fighter Nonito Donaire stopped Mexico's Fernando Montiel in the second round to take the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization bantamweight titles.
- All I can say is Wow! Nonito Donaire knew exactly what would happen and timed Montiel perfectly. Read the full story inside -
source: http://www.afp.com/afpcom/en/
Donaire on Saturday took a right to the head from the champion, then immediately countered with a devastating left to the head that sent Montiel crumpling to the canvas.
Montiel rose to continue and Donaire rushed over to land a left and a right before referee Russell Mora stopped the fight after two minutes and 25 seconds of the second round.
"I wanted to see how his body was, exactly where his head was going to be, so I had to take some (punches) in order to gain some knowledge," Donaire said.
"That's why I knew exactly what was going to happen, exactly where he was going to be. That's how I did it."
Donaire, a 28-year-old former world flyweight champion, rose to 26-1 with his 18th victory inside the distance and his 25th triumph in a row over the past decade.
Montiel, 31, fell to 44-3 with two drawn and suffered his first loss in 13 fights dating to 2006. Montiel, who had been a world champion since 1999, was taken for medical treatment after the defeat without comment.
The fighters were cautious at the start, Donaire landing a left hook in the opening seconds of round one and a combination early in round two, setting the stage for the punishing blow that decided the fight.
"I just came out there believing in this talent God has given me," said Donaire, who in recent months has become estranged from the father who taught him boxing over the direction of his career.
Donaire, who is based in San Francisco, was born in General Santos, also the hometown of his idol, boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao.
"Pacquiao has given me this opportunity and I will always thank him for that," Donaire said. "I'm happy being number two."
Asked about his future plans, Donaire took aim at his new rival champions.
"I want to be undisputed in this weight class," Donaire said.
That will put hm in the path of the winner of an International Boxing Federation tournament title showdown between Ghana's Joseph Agbeko, 28-2, and Mexico's undefeated Abner Mares, 21-0 with one draw.
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