NEW YORK–Guillermo Rigondeaux boxed his way to a twelve round unanimous decision over 2012 Fighter of the Year Nonito
Donaire to win the WBO and retain the WBA Super Bantamweight championship at Radio City Music Hall.
In round one it looked like the fight could turn into a barn burner as the two tried to exchange with hard shots. It was Rigondeaux straight lefts and a hard right which was the difference in the opening frame. Rigondeuax would beat Donaire to the punch and be able to slide away before Donaire could respond with anything of consequence. Donaire seemed to follow Rigondeaux around the ring rather then cut him off.
The quick shots of Rigondeaux was able to cause some swelling around Donaire’s eyes as early as round seven. Donaire would be coming forward and it seemed like he was on the verge of winning some rounds but Rigondeaux would land a couple shots and be able to build a lead. Rigondeaux was able to overcome a shake beginning to round ten as he was thrown down early in the round which was ruled a slip but seconds later Donaire landed a hard left off a break that sent the Cuban down to the canvas. That woke Rogoindeaux up as he finished the round pretty good and the knockdown was more of an aberration than anything else. Rigindeaux was solid with the straight left and hurt Donaire in the final round with that punch and even closed the right eye of Donaire. It was a solid performance from Rogondeaux in terms of beating a top pound for pound fighter but his defensive style did not thrill most of the pro-Donaire crowd in attendance.
Rigondeaux, 121.5 lbs of Miami won by scores of 116-111, 115-112 and 114-113 and is now a unified champion ar=t 12-0. Donaire, 121.6 lbs of General Santos City, Philippines lost for the first time in twelve years and falls to 31-2.
Hot prospect Felix Verdajo scored an explosive 1st round stoppage over Steven Gutierrez in a scheduled four round Jr. Lightweight contest.
Verdajo dropped Gutierrez with a hard right and then for a second and final time with a blistering uppercut and the bout was waved off at 1:50 of round one.
Verdajo, 131.5 lbs of San Juan, PR is now 5-0 with four knockouts. Gutierrez, 130 lbs of Fort Worth, TX is now 4-4-1.
Popular New York Light Heavyweight Seanie Monaghan scored a first round stoppage over Rex Stanley in a scheduled eight round bout.
Monaghan scored a knockdown from a overhand right and it appeared that Stanley hurt his foot when he tried to get up and the fight was waved off at 1:51 of round one.
Monaghan, 176 lbs of Long Beach, NY is now 18-0 with 11 knockouts. Stanley, 177 lbs of Kansas City, MO is 11-5-0-1.
Good looking Super Middleweight prospect Jesse Hart scored a vicious third round stoppage over Marlon Farr in a scheduled four round bout.
Hart landed a hard combination that resulted with Farr being dropped to the ropes and the bout was stopped at 1:33 of round three.
Hart, 169 lbs of Philadelphia, PA is 7-0 with 5 knockouts. Farr, 170 lbs of Zephyrhills, FL is 2-3.
Hard punching Welterweight prospect Mikael Zewski took out Daniel Sostre in round two of a scheduled eight round bout.
Zewski scored a knockdown in round two and finished the fight with a barrage of punches and the bout was stopped at forty-nine seconds of round two.
Zewski, 148.5 lbs if Trois-Rivieres, Quebec is now 19-0 with 15 knockouts. Sostre, 147 lbs of New York, NY is now 11-9-1.
Glen Tapia remained undefeated by scoring a eight round unanimous decision over Joseph de los Santos in a Jr. Middleweight bout.
Scores were 80-72 on all cards for Tapia, 154.5 lbs of Passaic, NJ and is now 18-0. de los Santos, 153 lbs of Bayamon, PR is now 13-12-3.
Tyler Canning scored a four round split decision over Dario Soccia in a Super Welterweight bout.
Scores were 39-37 on two cards for Canning and 39-37 for Soccia.
Canning, 150 lbs of Lander, WY is 2-1. Soccia, 153 lbs of New York, NY is 2-1.
Erick De Leon opened up the show by scoring a knockdown in round one and cruising to a four round unanimous decision over Diamond Baier in a Lightweight bout.
Scores were 40-36 on two cards and 40-34 for De Lepon, 131.5 lbs of Detroit, MI and is 3-0. Baier, 131.5 lbs of Phoenix, AZ is now 2-5-1.
