Moments ago at the Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico, interim WBA Super Flyweight champion Nonito Donaire successfully defended his title with an eighth round stoppage over gritty challenger Hernan ?Tyson? Marquez.
The early rounds of the contest were slightly awkward as Donaire came out fighting from a southpaw stance and had trouble getting off on his smaller foe. Despite fighting at flyweight in previous contests, Tyson?s composure and tight defense seemed to give Donaire a few issues in the early going. The action picked up in the third as Marquez appeared to catch Donaire on the inside but was unable to capitalize. Donaire finished the round strongly and soon became to take over the fight.
?The Filipino Flash? had a much better 4th and used his agility and speed to befuddle his Sonora, Mexico foe and seize the momentum in the contest. In the 5th Donaire would score a convincing knockdown after catching Marquez with a piercing right hand and following up with a volley of punches moments later. Marquez was in dire straits but found a way to survive the round despite slipping towards the end of the stanza.
The bout came to somewhat of a lull in the following rounds as Marquez remained poised and kept the fight on the inside. Donaire remained relaxed and continued to look for the right openings. The telling moment would come in the 8th as the Bohol, Philippines native landing a beautifully timed left uppercut that floored Marquez severely. Marquez valiantly rose but the fight was waived off with just a second remaining in the round.
Asked for his thoughts on his performance Donaire admitted that it was probably beneficial for him to go past the early round stages of the fight.
?I wanted some more rounds,? Donaire admitted. ?I knew I could figure him out right away. I wanted to do my lefty style. I was really confident going in there. I took some beating but I think I needed that.?
The uppercut in the 8th was a perfectly timed counter shot that Donaire landed while Marquez was busy missing with a shot of his own. Donaire revealed that he could envision the stoppage well ahead of time but was simply biding his time until the moment presented itself.
?I knew I could make him miss but I was just looking at everything,? Donaire said. ?I was going to throw and uppercut and that?s what landed. I knew if I turned to the right hand I would land every time.?
With the win Donaire moves to 24-1 with 16 knockouts and will likely be moving to the Bantamweight division in pursuit of more meaningful endeavors. Donaire bust onto the scene with a July 2007 stoppage over Vic Darchinyan and has since stated his feelings towards welcoming a second encounter with the Armenian fighter. Despite his wishes, Donaire is uncertain if it will ever happen. Donaire’s previous fight was a third round TKO over Manuel Vargas in Las Vegas and he is obviously dying for the chance to face bigger opponents.
?There?s a possibility but it out of my hand. I gave them the opportunity and they didn?t want to make it happen. We have other guys we can work on.?
