San Leandro?s Nonito ?Filipino Flash? Donaire continued his march toward history Saturday night with a 12-round unanimous decision victory over South Africa?s Jeffrey ?Marvelous Mongoose? Mathebula to unify the WBO and IBF world junior featherweight titles at the Home Depot Center in Carson.
Despite giving up almost four inches in height, Donaire (29-1, 18 KOs) was able to get around the lanky Mathebula?s defense and knock him down with a counter left hook in the fourth round.
However, Mathebula (26-4-2, 14 KOs) would not fold, using an active left jab and the occasional stinging right hand behind it to fluster Donaire, who was looking for the finishing blow but was limited to throwing one shot at a time at several points in the bout. ?That jab really took the element out of my power,? Donaire said after the fight. ?He’s a great champion. I give a lot to him because he wouldn’t let me work, not even to the body.?
Ultimately, Donaire?s constant pressure allowed him to regain control over the last two rounds. In the 11th, a hard right hand from a charging Donaire chipped Mathebula?s tooth, forcing the South African to spit blood and curb his punch output as the two men marched to the finish line.
Official scores were 117-110, 118-109, and 119-108 for Donaire. CSNBayArea.com scored it 115-112 for the now six-time world champion over four weight classes.
Donaire vows that he isn?t finished annexing title belts in the 122-pound division, with WBC champ Abner Mares of Hawaiian Gardens and WBA titlist Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba standing in his way. Another option is former beltholder Toshiaki Nishioka of Japan, who was reportedly ringside to challenge Donaire.
?My goal is always to be an undisputed champion,? Donaire said. ?If you have three of the four [belts], that’s undisputed. You have Nishioka, who is a great fighter. You have Mares, [or] Rigondeaux. You definitely have Nishioka.?
PAVLIK FLOORS, OUTPOINTS ROSINSKY
In the televised co-feature, former undisputed middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik (40-2, 34 KOs) of Youngstown, Ohio, captured a 10-round unanimous decision over upstart Will Rosinsky (16-2, 9 KOs) of Ozone Park, N.Y.
Scores were 97-92 twice and 98-91 for Pavlik. CSNBayArea.com also had it 97-92 for Pavlik.
Now eight pounds heavier fighting at super middleweight, Pavlik sent Rosinsky to the canvas in the second round with a short, chopping right hand as the two traded shots on the inside.
?It was a little right hand,? Pavlik said. I clipped him with it. He?s been down before with it. It?s not a straight right hand, almost a right hook.?
Though Rosinsky?s movement and combination punching kept the fight competitive, Pavlik took control in the middle rounds behind a heavy left hook that landed to the body and to the head. A cut opened over Pavlik?s left eye in the fourth, but he made it to the finish line without any major issues.
In the postfight interview, Pavlik, who is also trained by Robert Garcia, shared his future targets at 168 pounds, one of whom was Oakland?s Andre Ward.
?Your [Carl] Froches, your [Lucian] Butes, your [Mikkel] Kesslers, your [Andre] Wards, if he gets by [Chad] Dawson or not,? Pavlik said. ?Is it realistic? I don?t know?but it?s got to be one of those guys.?
CHICO?S RODRIGUEZ LOSES CLOSE DECISION
In a preliminary bout that featured two unbeaten junior welterweights, Chico?s Moris Rodriguez (3-1-1, 2 KOs) dropped a six-round unanimous decision to St. Louis’ Keandre Gibson (7-0-1, 3 KOs). Although Rodriguez lost 58-56 on all three judges’ cards, the fight was close enough to go either way.
CSNBayArea.com Boxing Insider Ryan Maqui?ana is a voting member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and panelist for Ring Magazine?s Ratings Board. E-mail him at [email protected], check out his blog at Norcalboxing.net, or follow him on Twitter: @RMaq28.
