The fourth ranked pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire 28-1 (18 KO?s) of San Leandro, California would somewhere between rounds two and four suffer the effects of a lacerated left hand, causing Nonito quite a bit of pain in his successful debut at the 122 pound weight limit as an undercard attraction at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas last night. And en-route to what should have been a unanimous decision victory over a somewhat tentative former champion in the form of one Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. 21-2-1 (18 KO?s) of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, who, well behind on the scorecards was unwilling to take the necessary chances to make a more competitive showing, both judges Levi Martinez and Don Trella would rightfully see it 117-110 for Donaire, while inexplicably judge Ruben Garcia would have it 115-113 for Vazquez Jr. Aside from landing his jab, one would be hard pressed to find more than two rounds in favor of Wilfredo, as the agile ?Filipino Flash? seemed to be in command even when not punching. Moving up to debut at junior featherweight with the vacant WBO title on the line, Nonito Donaire? speed and athleticism kept him one step, and sometimes two steps ahead of the Puerto Rican fighter all night long. And when many were wondering whether or not the formidable Donaire would explode on the scene by bringing his power with him from the 118 pound weight division, the jury is perhaps still out on that one considering that Donaire was able to wobble his adversary in the third and seventh rounds, while putting Vazquez Jr. down on the canvass for the first time in his career in the ninth stanza, all with the prospect that he was unable to apply full force with his injured lethal left hand, the extent of which injury is yet to be determined. In an opening round in which both contestants would somewhat feel each other out, it wasn?t long before the bout would take on the character that was to recur throughout, as Donaire would step in, out, to the side, and pot shot the slower and less versatile Vazquez Jr., who behind a decent jab, would rarely throw much more, no doubt wary of the speed difference and precise counterpunching ability of his opponent. The fact that ?Papito? was reluctant to offer up combinations played right into the hands of the dynamic counter puncher, as ?The Filipino Flash? seemed to realize as early as the third round that this fight was his for the taking, as he all of a sudden would explode on the jaw of an unsuspecting Vazquez Jr. with a Tony Zale type leaping left hook from out of nowhere. Donaire? speed, power, and perhaps his underrated defensive prowess allowed the Filipino fighter to overwhelmingly elude, as well as control a conservative Wilfredo Jr., at times dropping his hands in front of the Puerto Rican fighter ala Joe Calzaghe/Roy Jones Jr. to lure him into a trade off, of which ?Papito? for the most part would be an unwilling participant, and/or Wilfredo would come up empty due to Nonito? elusiveness. Anytime Donaire let his hands go they were all solid shots, as he would wobble his opponent once more in the seventh round courtesy of another left hook, this time in the form of a counter over Vazquez Jr.?s right hand. Fast forwarding to round nine, a straight right hand left uppercut combination put Wilfredo down on the canvass for the first time in his pro career, as he would subsequently survive the remainder of the round by virtue of his solid defense, the same defense which allowed him to basically finish the fight on his feet. In the end, Vazquez Jr. fought quite similar to Omar Narvaez in many instances, Narvaez being Donaire? latest opponent who would go into a shell after getting whacked with the same left uppercut which exploded on the Puerto Rican?s chin for the ninth round knockdown. Impressive outing for Nonito, who overnight not only becomes a four division world champion, but ?The Filipino Flash? solidifies his hold at number four in the pound-for-pound rankings, while he is sure to place high within Ring Magazine?s top ten junior featherweights. The plot is already thickening at 122 pounds with potential showdowns looming with WBC champion Toshiaki Nishioka, as well as newly crowned WBA champion Guillermo Rigondeaux. Stay tuned fight fans as this division begins to heat up in a flash.
