Nonito Donaire Unifies WBO
& IBF Bantamweight Titles

By Carlos Cordoba
Photos: Marlene Marquez
 

Nonito Danire unified the WBO and IBF Bantamweight titles by defeating South Africa’s Jeffery Mathebula in the main event of HBO’s “Boxing After Dark,” hosted by Top Rank Promotions at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA. Donaire won the 12 round Super Bantamweight fight with scores of 117-110, 118-109, and 119-108.

Nonito Donaire (29-1, 18KOs) immediately made his presence felt. He let loose with several over hand rights that found its target in round one. He then unleashed his speedy left hook in the following round. That same punch would later galvanized the pro-Donaire crowd.

The Filipino Flash landed a flush left hook, which floored Jeffery Mathebula in the culminating seconds of round number four. The South African was able to recover and make it back to his corner. Nonito Donaire continued to please the 3,200 in attendance with blows such as the straight right that he landed in round number six and the lunging but awkward left in round number seven. He went on the dominate the remainder of the fight. His prowess was on full display in round number eleven where he again landed a flush straight right. Jeffery Methabula’s record fell to (26-4-2, 14KOs) after tonight’s defeat.


Kelly Pavlik Decisions Wil Rosinsky

Kelly Pavlik (40-2, 34KOs) earned a hard fought unanimous decision victory against Wil Rosinsky (16-1, 9KOs) in the ten round Super Middleweight bout. Pavlik’s victory came in the co-featured fight of the night. At the final bell, judge Jack Reiss saw the fight in Pavlik’s favor with a score of 97-92 while the remaining judges scored the fight alike, 98-91.

Young Town’s Kelly Pavlik found comfort in stoically stalking his foe from the initial bell. He connected on a right hook to score his first knockdown in round number two. The former undisputed middle weigh champion used left hook to the body masterfully and progressively found more and more success as the fight developed.

Kelly Pavlik, 30, was cut by a punch in round number four. The laceration was right below his left eyebrow. He continued to stalk Rosinsky nonetheless. Round number six may have been his best round. He calmly followed Rosinsky, battering him with straight rights and left hooks to the body. Rosinsky found some success in the fight, but he ultimately was no match for Kelly Pavlik who outclassed him to the final bell.


Anthony Flores Earns Second Professional Victor

Anthony Flores (2-0, 1KO) decisions Cameron Kreal (2-2-2) in a four round super lightweight bout. Inglewood’s Flores scored a knockdown in round one with a left hook to the body and went on to win a unanimous decision with two judges scoring the bout 38-37, while the remaining judge scored it 39-37 also for Anthony Flores.


Andy Ruiz Jr. Stops Jonte Willis In The Televised Opener

Mexicali’s Andy Ruiz Jr. (15-0, 9KOs) weighed in at 255 pounds at yesterdays weigh in, an obvious size advantage over his foe who weighed in at 215 pounds. Ruiz is no Adonis, but he is a skilled fighter. The Mexican national displayed impressive fluidity for someone his size. He put together punches beautifully as seen in round two. The blows were not only crisp but also powerful.

Andy Ruiz, 22, scored his first knockdown with a sharp left hook in round number five. He went on to dominate the eight round heavyweight fight; eventually stopping his foe with a barrage of blows led by several penetrating right hooks. Jonte Willis was out on his feet by the time the referee Wayne Hedgepeth stopped the bout 58 seconds into the final round. Willis record dropped to (8-4-1, 3KOs).


Brad Soloman Dismantles Hector Munoz

Highly touted Brad “King” Soloman (18-0, 7KOs) outclassed Hector Munoz (10-8-1, 13KOs) in route to a unanimous decision victory with scores of 79-71, 77-73, and 78-72. Soloman’s boxing acumen was on point from the inception of the scheduled eight round fight in the Welterweight division. The Douglasville, GA native had a stationary target to hit all night.

Soloman, 29, displayed great ring generalship. He landed a left hook followed by a right hook that floored Munoz in round number two. Munoz was willing to chase Soloman around the ring; albeit, in the process he absorbed some serious punishment.


Jose Roman KO’s Rodolfo Armenta

Jose “El Gato” Roman (15-0, 11KOs) knocks out Rodolfo Armenta (11-8-1, 9KOs) with a perfectly placed left hook in round number five in a Super Lightweight bout. Roman scored his first knockdown with a crisp left hook to the head followed by another to the torso in the opening round. The Orange County native went on to bloody his opponent in the ensuing rounds. The talented prospect ended the bout with another devastating left hook in round number. The third man in the ring halted the bout 1 minute, 23 seconds into round number five, as Armenta lay on the canvas unresponsive.


Eric Flores Remains Pitches Shutout

Inglewood’s Eric Flores (4-1-1, 1KOs) over powers Raymond Nichol (3-0-1, 2KOs) in route to a unanimous decision victory with two judges scoring the bout 40-36, while the remain judge scored it 40-35. Flores dominated the four round lightweight scrap utilizing his size advantage while unloading some powerful blows.


KeAndre “The Truth” Gibson Decisions Moris Rodriguez

St. Luis’ KeAndre Gibson (7-0-1, 3KOs) earned a unanimous decision victory against game Moris Rodriguez (3-1-1, 2KOs) in the six round Super Lightweight fight. Moris Rodriguez made KeAndre Gibson earn his keep but fell short. KeAndre Gibson used his reach advantage masterfully, landing quick straights then stepping back to avoid Rodriguez counters. All three judges ringside scored the bout alike, 58-56 for Gibson.


Victor Pasillas Stops Jesus Adame In Three

In the opening bout of the fight card, Los Angeles’ Victor Pasillas (2-0, 1KOs) stopped Jesus Adame (2-10) in the third round of their scheduled four round Featherweight scrap. Referee Jose Cobian halted the action 2 minutes, 35 seconds into round three after Adame failed to respond to the Robert Garcia trained Pasillas who was landing blows unabated.