BRIDGEPORT, Conn – Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire (18-1, 11 KOs) of San Leandro, CA by way of the Philippines, shockingly knocked out the “Raging Bull” Vic Darchinyan and won the IBF and IBO flyweight championships for his efforts on Saturday at the Harbour Yard Arena.
Donaire avenged the loss of his brother Glenn, who suffered a broken jaw at the hands of Darchinyan. Donaire was easily taking it to the previously unbeaten southpaw Darchinyan (28-1, 22 KOs) with lead right hands. Early on Donaire easily out-boxed the heavily favored Darchinyan, and then in the fifth round, Donaire put an exclamation at the end of his brutal sentence with a well-placed left hook that Darchinyan walked into.
The vicious left hook spelled the E-N-D for Darchinyan, who was down and for an extended period of time. But fortunately Darchinyan got up and was okay. The time of the knockout was 1:38 of the fifth stanza.
“I am okay…but I am very disappointed,” Darchinyan proclaimed after the fight. “I got caught with a great shot and these things happen in boxing. Of course I want a rematch.”
At the time of the stoppage the scorecards read 50-45 and 48-46 (2x’s) in favor of Donaire.
“I came in here as an underdog, nobody believed in me but I did it,” the newly crowned champion joyfully told press row. “I said yesterday that one punch can make the difference between me and him. I fought guys who are heavier so I timed my shots. He has heavy hands but my brother said he [Darchinyan] isn’t as tough as he thinks he is. I shut him up but he still won’t admit that I beat him.”
Former IBF super flyweight champion Luis “El Demoledor” Perez (25-1, 16 KOs) of Managua, Nicaragua captured the vacant IBF bantamweight title with a dramatic seventh round knockout of Genaro “Poblanito” Garcia (35-6, 20 KOs) of Puebla, MX. Garcia is known for being the last fighter to hand super bantamweight Rafael Marquez his last defeat.
Perez dropped the gutsy Garcia in the second with a straight left [from the southpaw stance]. In the seventh round, Perez closed the show in stellar fashion. Perez beautifully timed his counterpart with a picture perfect left hook, that simply put Garcia’s “lights out”. The stoppage came at :39 second mark of the seventh frame
Perez was in control from start to finish. The scores at the time of the stoppage were 70-61 across the board in favor of Perez.
“Garcia was very strong,” the newly crowned champion told the media. “It was an excellent challenge. I thought I won all of the rounds from the beginning. I could tell that I had a reach advantage, I am very happy to be champion.”
A dejected Garcia made time for the media as well. “He had a lot of stamina,” he said later on. “Perez made the most of his reach advantage. I did the best I could. I give Perez all of the credit in the world.”
In an exciting match up between two heavyweight prospects, Demetrice King (12-15, 9 KO’s) of Flint, Michigan controversially stopped the previously undefeated Bermane Stiverne (12-1, 12 KO’s) of Las Vegas, NV. at the 1:59 mark of the fourth round. Both fighters treated the crowd to some excellent exchanges, however the stoppage did seem to be a bit premature. King was clubbing Stiverne with his right hand but at no point did Stiverne appear hurt. Referee John Callus of CT. just jumped in and waved the fight off leaving those in attendance greatly upset.
“I was never hurt,” an upset Stiverne shouted afterwards. “The ref stopped the fight too soon. We [the fighters] were talking trash to each other during the punching exchange. I was urging King to hit me harder. I was blocking most of the punches, watch the tape. I was landing my jab. I was laughing when the referee stopped the fight. I wont fight anybody else till I fight Demetrice King.”
King greatly resembles Brooklyn rapper Lil’ Cease of the Junior M.A.F.I.A.
Cruiserweight Guillermo Jones (35-3-2, 27 KO’s) of Colon, Panama won a boring eight round unanimous decision over Zack Page (13-14-1, 5 KO’s) of Warren, OH. Jones dropped Page in the second from a left jab. The scores were 79-72 (2x’s) and 78-74. This was Jones’ first fight in six months. Jones stopped Jeremy Bates in one round back in January in Florida.
In a much better than expected fight, middleweight prospect Sergio Rivera (2-0) of San Juan, Puerto Rico UD4 Delvin Laney (0-2) of Miami, FL. The scorecards read 39-37 across the board. Rivera combined his jab with a decent body attack. Laney didn’t fight like a fighter that was 0-1. Fully knowing that he was behind on points, Laney came on strong in the fourth. Rivera is built physically like Felix Trinidad but obviously lacks Trinidad’s power.
Two-time heavyweight title challenger Monte ‘Two-Gunz’ Barrett appeared to be on his way to easy victory against Cliff Couser (26-12-2, 13 KO’s) before getting caught twice with two big right hands from Couser. Barrett hit the canvas as a result a right hand to the chin at the end of the first. Barrett (31-6, 17 KO’s) just barely beat the count and walked towards his corner. Apparently the rest didn’t do Barrett any good, because Couser landed another huge right hand to Barrett’s dome. Barrett again went crashing to the canvas for the second time of the night. The contest was called to a halt at the :42 second mark of the second frame.
In the opening bout of the evning, Devon Alexander i mproved to 12-0 and 7 KO’s by stopping Marcus Luck (8-15-1, 3 KO’s) of Danville, Virginia in the third at the 1:28 mark. Alexander was dominant throughout scoring a pair of knockdowns in the 2nd frame.
