Filipino bantamweight Nonito Donaire punctuated his coming to boxing stardom with a spectacular left hook to the temple that knocked down defending champion Fernando Montiel with 57 seconds left in the second round before finishing him off moments later as the referee waved off the fight with the Mexican hapless and ready to go again at the neutral corner.
Donaire wrested the world Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization bantamweight crowns from Montiel to follow world welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao as the second Filipino to capture boxing crowns in at least three different divisions.
Pacquiao had already won boxing titles in eight different weight classes, an unprecedented feat.
Incidentally, both Pacquiao and Donaire have childhood roots in General Santos City.
Donaire?s family was from General Santos City before migrating to the United States when Nonito was 10 years old.
Donaire came into the fight with 24 straight victories after suffering his lone career loss in his second professional fight.
He has won titles in the flyweight and superflyweight divisions.
Donaire used the same left hook that knocked out Armenian Vic Darchinyan from whom he annexed his second world boxing crown at the super flyweight class.
Montiel slowly fell on his back in a delayed reaction to the powerful counter left hook off that Donaire threw with a blinding speed.
Montiel appeared like he was convulsing with his two feet wiggling in the air as he tried to rise from his back, his motor faculties momentarily gone after taking a devastating hit in the right temple.
The Mexican rose slowly but tumbled backwards before wobbling to his feet to barely beat the count. He was however still visibly in queer streets as the referee signaled both fighters to continue to fight.
Donaire then quickly jumped on Montiel landing another left and a right combination before the referee stepped in to halt the fight 2:25 into the second round.
Both fighters started very tight in the first round and were apparently waiting to slug it out to back their pre-fight knockout predictions.
Donaire however drew first blood when he connected with a left hook that snapped back the head of Montiel. Several moments later, he drove back the deposed champion with a right straight o the body.
In the second round, Montiel started getting aggressive and was closing in the distance between him the Filipino challenger. He was starting to connect until both almost simultaneously landed their punches ? Montiel?s right hook which was countered with a wicked left hook from Donaire.
The knockout victory stunned the fairly large crowd at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas including former featherweight champion Marco Antonio Barrera.
Donaire later said he is willing to go up in weight to capture as many boxing crowns he could take.
Top Rank?s Bob Arum said Donaire will be good enough to campaign in the super featherweight division and raised the possibility of the new bantamweight king fighting featherweight champion Juan Manuel Lopez.
Donaire said he will take whoever his promoter will match against him.
