Nonito Donaire knocked our Jorge Arce in the third round in Houston, Texas, on Saturday night.
But that is only part of the story. The little Filipino, the WBO super-bantamweight champion, took revenge on behalf of his countryman Manny Pacquiao, who had been knocked out by a Mexican the previous weekend, and their nation.
Donaire produced a command performance against a former WBC light-flyweight, WBC, WBA and IBF super-flyweight, WBO bantamweight and WBO super-bantamweight champion who had won 46 fights by knockout.
Arce was knocked down in the second round, his right glove briefly touching the canvas after Donaire had clubbed him with a left to the back of the head.
The Mexican went down again in the third, mainly as a result of a couple of late blows as he stumbled into the ropes. He was soon back on his feet but there was no respite as Donaire went after him, throwing blows from every angle.
A crisp left on the chin dumped Arce on the floor and referee Laurence Cole counted him out with one second of the round to go.
The previous week it was Pacquiao who lay motionless on the deck, face down, after Mexico?s Juan Manuel Marquez had knocked him cold. This time it was the Mexican who needed medical attention as Arce lay on his back. Boxing fans in the Philippines rejoiced.
Donaire was making the third defence of the WBO junior featherweight title. He improved his record to 31-1, with 20 knockouts. He has also held the IBF flyweight and WBC and WBO bantamweight titles.
He won the vacant WBO junior featherweight belt in February this year when he beat Wilfredo Vasquez Jr on a split decision.
He retained the title against South African Jeffrey Mathebula, whom he beat on points, and Toshiaki Nishioka, who was stopped in the ninth.
The 30-year-old Donaire has also beaten the likes of Vic Darchinyan, Rafael Concepcion, Fernando Montiel and Hernan Marquez.
Arce?s record now stands at 60-7-2, with 46 knockouts. The last time he lost before he ran into Donaire was on September 15, 2009 when South African Simphiwe Nongqayi beat him. He later avenged the result.
