LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nonito Donaire unanimously outpointed Rafael Concepcion on Saturday night in his first super flyweight fight to take the WBA interim title.
Donaire, the 26-year-old Filipino star who vacated his IBF flyweight title to move up in weight, improved to 22-1 with his 21st consecutive victory. Judge Max De Luca scored the fight 117-111, Duane Ford had it 115-113, and Jerry Roth called it 116-112.
Donaire used a potent jab to cut open a gash under Concepcion's left eye midway through the second round at the Hard Rock.
Donaire ended the third round with a flurry of punches that nearly knocked down Concepcion (13-4-1), who fought with blood dripping down his face most of the night.
Donaire did show some weaknesses in the middle rounds. That inconsistency led to Concepcion landing a few big punches, but Donaire was never in danger.
He closed the fight by relying on his jab to control the final two rounds to secure the win. It resembled his success in the opening rounds.
Donaire, who successfully defended his flyweight title three times, is determined to get fights with Fernando Montiel and Jorge Arce, the super flyweight division's two biggest names, before moving up, perhaps eventually to lightweight.
Concepcion, who earned the respect of the crowd for going the distance, weighed in four pounds over the 115-pound limit, a violation that cost him 20 percent of his $65,000 purse. Even with a win, he wouldn't have been awarded the championship.
On the undercard, Steven Luevano retained his WBO featherweight title after being floored by challenger Bernabe Concepcion following the seventh round bell. Concepcion, who was trailing on two of the three judges' scorecards, was disqualified.
"The bell definitely rang and he hit him late," said Freddie Roach, Bernabe Concepcion's trainer. "I don't have any argument with that. But it was not intentionally by any means. My fighter was just excited. The disqualification was justified."
Top photo: Nonito Donaire of the Philippines celebrates his unanimous decision victory over Rafael Concepcion of Panama following their interim WBA super flyweight title bout at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, August 15, 2009. REUTERS/Steve Marcus.
(Source: philboxing.com)
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