It was a little tougher than expected, but WBO jr. featherweight champion Nonito Donaire picked up his second title in the division, defeating former IBF champion Jeffrey Mathebula via unanimous decision at The Home Depot Center in Carson California. Donaire was the aggressor in the fight as he tried to land his big punches, which he did early, catching Mathebula flush on the jaw and dropping him with a left hook. Mathebula got up, however, and was game throughout the fight. Unfortunately for him, he simply didn't have enough power in his punches as Donaire continued to walk through them and find a home for his bigger, more telling shots. In the end, the judges scored the bout 117-110, 118-109, and 119-108 in favor for Donaire. Relive all the action in FightHype's round-by-round results.
NONITO DONAIRE VS. JEFFREY MATHEBULA
ROUND 1
Donaire comes out and lands a quick uppercut. Left hook lands for Donaire. Mathebula misses with some off-balance shots. Solid left hook lands for Donaire. Jab lands for Mathebula. Short left lands for Donaire. Mathebula looks sloppy and tentative. Solid left from Donaire has Mathebula on shaky legs already. Right hand lands for Donaire. Mathebula gets in a left. Left hook lands for Donaire. Another. Mathebula sneaks in a left. Round to Donaire.
Donaire 10 Mathebula 9
ROUND 2
Mathebula lands a jab. Donaire just misses with a big right. Another right from Donaire is blocked. Now Donaire drops his hands and leaps in to land an uppercut. Mathebula lands a soft jab. Left to the body lands for Mathebula. Donaire lands a left hook. They trade on the inside. Quick 1-2 lands for Mathebula. Donaire lands a left hook. Mathebula digs a left to the body. Jab lands for Mathebula. 1-2 to the body lands for Mathebula. Donaire looking to just walk him down and bomb him out of there. They trade at the bell. Round to Donaire.
Donaire 20 Mathebula 18
ROUND 3
Right hand lands for Mathebula. Donaire misses with a right. Right to the body lands for Mathebula. Donaire lands a jab to the body. Nice left to the body lands for Donaire. Short left sneaks in for Mathebula. Uppercut lands for Mathebula. Mathebula lands a couple of jabs. Donaire lands a right. Mathebula lands a few more jabs. Nice left lands for Mathebula. Donaire lands a jab. Round to Mathebula.
Donaire 29 Mathebula 28
ROUND 4
Donaire misses with a wild left hook. Short left lands for Donaire. Right lands for Donaire. Mathebula gets in a 1-2. Mathebula lands a couple of jabs. Quick 4-punch combo lands for Mathebula. Donaire jabs to the body. 1-2 lands for Mathebula. Donaire still stalking looking to land big shots. Stiff jab lands for Donaire. Right hand over the top lands for Donaire. Solid right lands for Mathebula. Nice left to the body lands for Donaire. Uppercut lands for Donaire. Another left to the body lands for Donaire. HUGE left hook lands for Donaire and Mathebula is down. He's up and takes the count. End of round. Round to Donaire.
Donaire 39 Mathebula 36
ROUND 5
Left hook lands for Donaire to start the round. Uppercut lands for Donaire. Right and a left lands for Donaire. Mathebula just doesn't have anything on his punches. Right lands for Mathebula. Left hook lands for Mathebula. Mathebula landing pitty-pat shots to Donaire's bombs. Right hand lands for Donaire. Mathebula lands a solid right of his own. Donaire just walking through his punches. Right hand lands for Mathebula. Solid left hand lands for Donaire. Right to the body lands for Donaire. 1-2 lands for Mathebula. Left to the body lands for Donaire. Right lands for Mathebula. Donaire lands a left at the bell. Round to Donaire.
Donaire 49 Mathebula 45
ROUND 6
Right hand sneaks in for Mathebula. Another solid 1-2 lands for Mathebula. Donaire digs a left to the body. Right hand lands for Donaire. Hard right down the pipe lands for Donaire. Mathebula answers with one of his own. 1-2 lands for Donaire. Nice left hook lands for Mathebula. Short right lands for Donaire. Jab lands for Matheubla. Left hook lands for Mathebula. Donaire lands a right. Better round for Mathebula.
Donaire 58 Mathebula 55
ROUND 7
Donaire still coming forward, looking to land bombs. Mathebula flicks him with some jabs. Donaire digs a left to the body. Leaping left lands for Donaire. Another. Mathebula lands a few more jabs. Donaire standing with his hands down. Left and a right lands for Donaire. Mathebula a lot more defensive this round. Round to Donaire.
Donaire 68 Mathebula 64
ROUND 8
Donaire jabs to the body. 1-2 lands for Mathebula. Right hand lands for Donaire. Donaire lands a left. Mathebula jabs. Short right lands for Mathebula. Donaire lands a left upstairs. A few boos from the crowd. Left hook lands for Mathebula. Jab lands for Mathebula. Another. Round to Mathebula.
Donaire 77 Mathebula 74
ROUND 9
Jab lands for Mathebula. Short right followed by a left lands for Mathebula. Leaping left lands for Donaire. Right to the body lands for Donaire. Jab lands for Mathebula. They trade jabs. Left hook gets in for Mathebula. Quick 5-punch combo lands for Mathebula. Donaire looking to land that bomb again; getting a little outworked. They trade jabs. Left hook lands for Mahtebula. Donaire lands a left upstairs. Round to Mathebula.
Donaire 86 Mathebula 84
ROUND 10
Jab lands for Donaire. Left hook lands for Donaire. Mathebula lands his left. 1-2 lands for Mathebula. Donaire lands an up-jab. They trade along the ropes. Right hand lands for Mathebula. 1-2 lands for Mathebula. Jab lands for Mathebula. Another 1-2 lands for Mathebula. Right lands for Donaire. Body shot lands for Donaire. Quick right lands for Mathebula. Donaire digs a left to the body. Nice uppercut lands for Mathebula. Donaire lands a right. Round to Mathebula.
Donaire 95 Mathebula 94
ROUND 11
Donaire sneaks in a left. Right from Donaire grazes Mathebula. Donaire digs a right to the body. Mathebula lands a jab. Right down the middle lands for Donaire. Right to the body lands for Donaire. Mathebula not doing anything but covering up right now. Right lands for Donaire. Mathebula lands a 1-2. Mathebula may have a broken jaw. Round to Donaire.
Donaire 105 Mathebula 103
ROUND 12
Mathebula just protecting his face. Donaire lands a lunging left hook. Right to the body lands for Donaire. Mathebula still retreating while protecting his face. Mathebula just on his bike. Overhand right lands for Mathebula. Left lands for Donaire. Now Mathebula lands a solid combination. Jab lands for Mathebula. Uppercut lands for Mathebula. Left gets in for Donaire. Donaire lands a right. Mathebula gets in a left. Round to Donaire.
Donaire 115 Mathebula 112
Official judges scorecards: 117-110, 118-109, 119-108
THE WINNER BY WAY OF UNANIMOUS DECISION...NONITO DONAIRE
COMPUBOX
Donaire total punches: 151/515
Mathebula total punches: 231/919
Donaire jabs: 49/254
Mathebula jabs: 140/611
Donaire power punches: 102/262
Mathebula power punches: 91/308
