The country?s only superstar boxer from General Santos City has the glam and the gold.
But the other rising fighter from GenSan has the goods.
Nonito Donaire Jr. picked up steam following a slow start then pounded away at Luis Maldonado of Mexico to retain the International Boxing Federation flyweight title Saturday night at the Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Connecticut.
Donaire is one of four Filipinos who are holding world titles but the US-raised fighter is the first among them to put his belt on the line. Donaire, 25, did not disappoint, stopping the tough Maldonado at the 1:16 mark in the eighth round.
Donaire?s power opened cuts to Maldonado?s eyes early, but the Mexican didn?t go down easily. Maldonado changed his stance midway through the fight, before the winded challenger?s body finally gave in.
?He had me thinking in [the sixth] round. But I was really in control of the fight,? Donaire said in an overseas interview, describing the round where Maldonado went to the southpaw stance to shake up Donaire?s game plan.
It turned out Maldonado?s strategy was short term.
Donaire staggered Maldonado with severe right straights then floored the Mexican with a left hook toward the end of the sixth.
Maldonado, though wobbly, rose up quickly but it was already clear what would happen next.
Maldonado was checked by the ring physician in between rounds but was still cleared by the doctor to continue, something that turned out to be humiliating for the Mexican as Donaire battered his challenger with a good number of left hooks and right straights.
One more vicious left uppercut connected by Donaire forced referee Dave Dwyer to finally call a halt to the brutal assault in the eighth.
After a so-so first round, Donaire picked up the pace in the next round by landing jarring right straights and left hooks that staggered the Mexican. Donaire?s sturdy attacks opened up nasty cuts to both Maldonado?s eyes.
Despite the gashes, Maldonado fought bravely bringing the fight to Donaire. But the Filipino?s precision punching and brilliant footwork and hand speed made the Mexican an ideal target practice.
?I was having some problems with my legs but I was OK the whole time. I?m really thankful I had a great training camp in Cebu,? said Donaire, who also retained the fringe International Boxing Organization (IBO) flyweight belt.
Donaire and his father/trainer Nonito Sr. trained for about a month at the ALA Boxing Gym in Cebu where he sparred with RP flyweight champion Rocky Fuentes, flyweight contender Louie Bantigue and RP bantamweight boss Michael Domingo.
?I had great sparring partners and sessions in Cebu. Something that is a bit of problem for us here in the US,? said Donaire. ?It is something that we will probably do for upcoming fights.?
Donaire?s fight was shown in several giant screens at the Araneta Coliseum, site of the ?Payback? boxing card where Filipinos Rey ?Boom Boom? Bautista and teen prospect AJ ?Bazooka? Banal scored impressive victories against their Mexican foes.
Through a wireless phone connected to a public address system inside the coliseum, Donaire thanked all the Filipino fans and his avid supporters.
Japanese next?
Donaire?s name is often mentioned as possible foe for established superstars Jorge Arce, a two-time world champion, and World Boxing Council (WBC) super-flyweight ruler Christian Mijares.
Donaire (19-1 with 12 knockouts) is targeting World Boxing Association (WBA) flyweight champion Takefumi Sakata, and WBC ruler Daisuke Naito.
?If the Japanese champions don?t want to fight me, then I will move up in the super-flyweight and challenge the champions of that division,? Donaire once told the BusinessMirror in a recent interview.
Donaire, who shocked the boxing world as he annihilated the seemingly invincible Vic Darchinyan inside five rounds last July, traces his roots to Bohol and Manny Pacquiao?s General Santos City. He resides in San Leandro, California.
It was only Maldonado?s second loss in 40 fights that include 37 wins, a draw and 28 KOs.
In the night?s main serving, Antonio Tarver stopped Danny Santiago in the fourth round to retain his International Boxing Organization light-heavyweight title.
Vernon Forrest also successfully defended his World Boxing Council super-welterweight title, stopping Italy?s Michele Piccirillo at 2:21 of the 11th round after landing two crushing right hands.
Tarver used a series of combinations to score a technical knockout victory over fellow American Danny Santiago at 2:53 of round four. It was the first successful title defense for Tarver, who captured the IBO crown in June.
