Nonito Donaire TKO 9 Toshiaki Nishioka
Nonito Donaire Jr. dominated in his third consecutive title victory in as many bouts since debuting in the super bantamweight division when he stopped Japan?s Toshiaki Nishioka in Round 9 moments ago at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA in the main event of HBO?s ?Boxing After Dark? telecast. Donaire jumped out to an early lead after Nishioka appeared reluctant to engage in any way in the opening rounds. The ?Flash? pumped out a stiff jab and mixed it up with lightning fast straight right hands that found their mark. Nishioka remained so shelled up in the early going he was unable to muster any kind of offense as the heavy handed Donaire looked to find a way to crack his guard. In the sixth the Japanese charge finally started to throw some punches and was caught with a stunning left uppercut that dropped him on the seat of his pants. Nishioka beat the count and decided to exchange where he actually managed to land a few punches for the first time in the fight but it was all Donaire at the half way point.
The action in Round 6 seemed to serve as a stern reminder to Nishioka that he couldn?t afford to take Donaire?s best power shots and the action slowed once again.
The Rios-Alvarado barn burner in the co-main event proved a tough act to follow as Donaire didn?t have much to work with in entertaining the local California crowd.
Nishioka came out of his shell to throw a few power shots in Rounds 8 and 9 but they were few and far between. The fight was strangely reminiscent to Manny Pacquiao?s frustrating outing against a shelled up Joshua Clottey.
In Round 9 Nishioka tried to turn aggressive and momentarily backed Donaire onto the ropes but the brilliant Filipino was just playing possum and erupted from a crouched position to throw a telling right hand bomb that dropped the Japanese fighter hard. Nishioka got up on very unsteady legs and the bout was stopped as his corner entered the ring just as he ate one last lead uppercut. The referee waived the bout off securing Donaire the big ninth round stoppage win at the 1:54 mark of the ninth.
The win improved Donaire to 30-1 (19 KOs) while Nishioka suffered his first pro defeat in over eight years to slip to 39-5-3 (24 KOs).
?I?m a surgeon in there,? Donaire said post fight. ?These guys feel my power and they don?t want to engage so the surgeon goes to work to open them up and then the demolition man comes in and takes them out. I fought the guy I thought was the best in the division. I want to fight the best out there so anyone who wants to try and test me? sign the contract and lets get it on!?
