NONITO Donaire Jr.?s sensational stoppage over Mexican star Fernando Montiel earned him ?Knockout of the Year? honors Sports Illustrated?s annual awards.
Donaire Jr., who also won a ?Knockout of the Year? award with his brutal knockout of Vic Darchinyan in 2007, grabbed another award after his picture -perfect left hook to the head of Montiel last Feb. 19 at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas.
The 29-year-old Filipino-American boxer beat Montiel in second round of their world title clash, catapulting him to the list of the best boxers in the world.
Donaire Jr. is ranked fourth in The Ring Magazine?s pound-for-pound ratings behind fellow Filipino Manny Pacquiao (No. 1), Floyd Mayweather Jr. (No. 2) and Sergio Martinez (No. 3).
After a lackluster fight with world champion Omar Narvaez, Donaire Jr. is scheduled to face former WBO super bantamweight champion Wilfredo Vazquez Jr., the son of the Puerto Rican boxing great with the same name, in February.
