PREFIGHT
Rafael Concepcion comes out first. He's got a blank expression on his face, like he's simply ready to get the fight started. He waves to the crowd as he enters the ring. Nonito Donaire enters next. He looks conident and pumped up as he makes his way to the ring.
ROUND 1
Donaire comes out fast backing Concepcion up. Concepcion lands a nice right. HARD uppercut lands for Donaire. Left hook and a right hand lands for Donaire. Jab and another hard uppercut lands for Donaire. HARD body shot lands for Donaire and Concepcion is hurt. He backs up. Left hook to the body lands again for Donaire. Round to Donaire.
Donaire 10 Concepcion 9
ROUND 2
Right hand from Concepcion is partially blocked. Left hand lands for Concepcion. Donaire lands a left to the body. Jab lands for Donaire. Another left hook lands for Donaire. HARD right hand down the middle lands for Donaire. Some swelling on the eye of Concepcion already. BIG right hand lands for Concepcion now...another. Donaire eats it and lands a left hook. WOOOOOOOO...BIG left hook lands for Concepcion and Donaire is hurt. Donaire retreats. Concepcion chases him down and lands a 1-2 along the ropes. Donaire appears to have shaken it off, but his cheek is swollen where that left hook landed. Round to Concepcion.
Donaire 19 Concepcion 19
ROUND 3
Donaire fires his jab and circles. Left hook lands for Concepcion. Donaire definitely looking to keep his distance now. Left hook lands for Donaire. They trade jabs. Uppercut lands for Donaire. Straight right lands for Donaire. Left to the body lands for Concepcion. Donaire fire his jab and circles again. Round to Donaire.
Donaire 29 Concepcion 28
ROUND 4
Donaire circles and fires his jab more. Concepcion having a difficulty time closing the distance. Nice uppercuts land for Donaire. Donaire continues to dance around on his toes, keeping his distance with his jab. Left hand lands for Donaire. HARD right hand down the middle lands for Donaire. Concepcion lands a left to the body. They trade jabs. HARD right hand lands for Donaire, but he eats a HARD left hook in return from Concepcion. Both men trade along the ropes to end the round. The action is heating up now. Round to Donaire.
Donaire 39 Concepcion 37
ROUND 5
Jab, jab, jab from Donaire. Another jab lands for Donaire. Concepcion tries to trap him against the ropes, but Donaire dances away. Hard left hook lands for Concepcion. Jab lands for Concepcion. Donaire lands his own jab. A break in the action as a clash of heads occur. The action resumes. Concepcion continues to just follow while Donaire keeps him at bay with his jab. Round to Donaire.
Donaire 49 Concepcion 46
ROUND 6
Right hand over the top lands for Donaire. Concepcion just following...he needs to learn how to cut off the ring. More jabs from Donaire. A left to the body lands for Concepcion. HARD right hand lands for Concepcion. Donaire just eats it. Left hook lands for Concepcion and Donaire is on the retreat. Donaire's hands are down pretty low. Concepcion backs him up to the ropes and lands some nice shots to the body. Donaire answers with a right hand over the top. Concepcion keeps the pressure up. Donaire on his bike. Jab from Concepcion snaps the head back of Donaire. Right hand lands for Concepcion. Round to Concepcion.
Donaire 58 Concepcion 56
ROUND 7
Donaire continues to stay on his bike and keep his distance from Concepcion. Donaire doing a lot less throwing righ now. Concepcion backs him up to the corner and lands some body shots. Donaire covers up and retreats. Jab lands for Concepcion. Big right hand lands for Concepcion. Uppercut lands for Donaire. Right hand lands for Donaire. Left to the body lands for Concepcion. Nice right hand lands for Donaire. Another left and a right lands for Donaire. Jab lands for Donaire. Left hook and a right lands for Concepcion to end the round. Very close round. Very close. I give it to Concepcion for pressing the action, but Donaire may have won it back in the last minute.
Donaire 67 Concepcion 66
ROUND 8
Donaire bouncing up and down on his toes. Jab, jab, jab from Donaire. They trade jabs. Right hand lands over the top for Concepcion. Donaire answers with a nice right hand of his own. More jabs land for Donaire. They trade jabs. Nice left hand lands for Donaire. They trade jabs. Concepcion doing a better job of slipping punches, but Donaire still outworking him. Nice right hand lands for Donaire. Round to Donaire.
Donaire 77 Concepcion 75
ROUND 9
Left hook from Concepcion is partially blocked. Donaire lands a couple of jabs. Right hand from Concepcion is partially blocked again. Donaire just playing around in there as he moves and lands one punch at a time. Concepcion lands a jab. Another. They trade jabs. Left hand lands for Concepcion. Right and a left lands for Donaire. HARD right hand lands for Donaire. A couple of jabs land for Concepcion. 1-2 lands for Donaire. Uppercut lands for Donaire. Round to Donaire.
Donaire 87 Concepcion 84
ROUND 10
Donaire continues to circle and jab. Nice right hand lands for Donaire. Jab lands for Donaire. 1-2 lands for Donaire. Concepcion digs a 1-2 to the body. Donaire continues to keep his distance behind the jab. Concepcion lands a jab. They trade jabs. Nice righ tlands for Donaire. Concepcion answers with a right of his own. Both men trading. Nice uppercut lands for Donaire to end the round. Round to Donaire.
Donaire 97 Concepcion 93
ROUND 11
Donaire circles away and fires his jab. Nice right hand lands for Donaire. Concepcion backs up. Concepcion lands a right. Donaire backs on his feet and firing his jab. Another nice right hand lands for Donaire. Concepcion answers with a BIG right of his own. Donaire fires back with another BIG right hand of his own. Both men trading hard shots. Round to Donaire.
Donaire 107 Concepcion 102
ROUND 12
Donaire lands a couple of jabs. Right hand lands for Concepcion. Jab lands for Concepcion. Another. Donaire just on the retreat and not throwing much right now. They trade jabs. Again. Left hook lands for Concepcion. Donaire lands a right. Right hand lands for Donaire again. Left to the body lands for Concepcion. Donaire lands another right. They trade at the end. Round to Concepcion.
Donaire 116 Concepcion 112
Official judges scorecards: 117-111, 115-113, 116-112
THE WINNER BY UNANIMOUS DECISION...NONITO DONAIRE
POSTFIGHT
"If I would've known it was going to be a marathon, I would've run," stated Concepcion regarding the fight. "I was expecting a fight...a real Filipino fighter...I knew he was great boxer...I just thought he had a warrior's heart and we would exchange a little more," he contined. "The five pound he had on me...if he was at 115, he would have gone down early...those extra pounds that he had was definitely an advantage," Donaire remarked. "I can in here to represent; I came in here to fight with my heart...he was a tough guy and I'm definitely ready for the big guys in this weight class," he continued.
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