In the main event of last night's HBO Boxing After Dark telecast, Filipino sensation Nonito Donaire dismantled and dethroned WBC & WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel in a performance that left no doubt as to who will carry the torch for Philippine boxing when the Manny Pacquiao era ends. Proving why he earned the nickname "The Filipino Flash", Donaire was too fast and too powerful for the smaller Montiel. A well-timed counter left hook over a slower right hand floored Montiel in the second round. It should've been the end of the fight as the convulsive Fernando struggled to make it to his feet. Somehow, however, the brave former champion got up and the referee unwisely allowed the fight to briefly continue. Donaire quickly jumped on him though, landing two more uneccesary shots that finally forced the stoppage at 2:25.
For Donaire, now 26-1 with 18 knockouts, his career appears headed into orbit after it was first shot to stardom in 2007 when he stopped highly-regarded puncher Vic Darchinyan to win the flyweight title. Montiel, who was a 3 to 1 underdog coming into the fight, falls to 44-3-2 with 34 knockouts and it would not be surprising if he called it a career after such a devestating knockout.
Last November on the Pacquiao-Margarito undercard, undefeated welterweight contender Mike Jones won an unpopular majority decision over Jesus Soto Karass. In the immediate rematch, Jones left no doubt about whot the better fighter was, outboxing the bloodied but game Soto Karass to win a clear unanamous decision this time around. Official judges scorecards were 115-113, 116-112, and 117-111, all in favor of Jones, who remains unbeaten 24-0 with 18 knockouts. Soto Karass falls to 24-6-3 with 16 knockouts. Normally, I would praise his gutsy effort, but I may be in the minority with the opinion that a close eye should be kept on his health if he's going to continue to willingly absorb so many punches.
Also on the card, Rodrigo Garcia won a shutout decision over Gerald Jordan in a super welterweight fight. Garcie is now 10-0 while Jordan falls to 7-4-1.
In an 8-round lightweight bout, Mickey Bey overcame the early pressure assault of Jose Hernandez to take the last two rounds and salvage a draw. Bey's punches could not keep the taller Hernandez off of him and he was rocked in the early going. FightHype scored the bout even at 76-76. Two of the three judeges agreed with our score, making the result a majority draw. The third judge scored it 78-74 for Bey, which brought a chorus of boos when it was announced. Bey is now 16-0-1 with 8 knockouts while Hernandez is 10-4-1 with 4 knockouts.
Filipino welterweight Mark Melligen outboxed Mexico's Gabriel Martinez to earn a unanamous ten-round decision. Scores were 99-91 twice and 98-92. FightHype also scored it 98-92 for Melligen, who improved to 21-2 with 14 knockouts. Martinez falls to 27-2-1 with 14 knockouts.
Former Cuban Olympian Yordenis Ugas showed more boxing skills and slipped the haymakers of Carlos Musquez to earn a six-round unanmous shutout decision in a welterweight bout. The Buddy McGirt trained Ugas is now 6-0 with 3 knockouts. Musquez falls to 3-4-3 with 3 knockouts.
Super lightweight Mike Alvarado kicked off the night's action and improved to 29-0 with 21 knockouts as he battered England's Dean Harrison for four rounds until Harrison's corner surrendered thier charge in between rounds. The gutsy Harrison drops to 16-5 with 5 knockouts.
In the evening's walk-out bout, welterweights Armando Dorantes and Ignacio Garcia had a tough act to follow after Nonito Donaire's knockout of Fernando Montiel, but the two gave a spirited battle nontheless and in the end, Garcia won a majority decision to improve to 4-3-1. Dorantes falls to 8-3.