Classy Rigondeaux beats Donaire on points
Guillermo Rigondeaux (12-0) took a unanimous decision victory over Nonito Donaire (31-2) to retain his WBA and claim the WBO super bantamweight title at the Radio City Music Hall, New York on Saturday night.
Double Olympic gold medalist Rigondeaux survived a 10th round knockdown to win by scores of 114-113, 115-112 and 116-111.
A straight left hand by Rigondeaux caused Donaire to stumble in the opening round before Donaire rocked his rival with a clubbing right in the 4th.
Rigondeaux, 32, upped his work-rate in rounds 6 and 7 before going on the retreat which drew boos from the crowd.
Donaire, 30, put Rigondeaux down with a short left hand in the 10th but the Cuban came back and resumed his dominance, easily winning rounds 11 and 12.
In the 12th it was Rigondeaux that came out fast, tagging the Filipino fighter with a huge left hand to the head that had Donaire grabbing his right eye immediately in pain. For the remainder of the round, Rigondeaux hit donaire at will while Donaire could only cover up his injured eye and ocassionally throw a wild left hook.
In the post fight interview, Rigondeaux said "I made him look the way he looked, which was bad. I was boxing, moving and he was frustrated. He's an excellent fighter with a good punch, but with one punch you can't win a fight."
Rigondeaux handed Donaire his first loss in 30 fights. Donaire's only previous loss came in his second pro fight in March 2001.
After the fight Donaire claimed he requires surgery to repair a injured shoulder that has hampered him for a while and intends to move up to featherweight.
"He beat me tonight," Donaire admitted, "I have alot of respect for him for the beautiful boxing he gave me...I tore ligaments in my shoulder in the last three fights and I need to have surgery. I'm not making excuses. I didn't do my job and throw my jab and go to the left. I thought it was very, very close, but we got to be better from this point forward. I want to go up in the division. It's very hard for me to make weight. I want a rematch. I didn't study the fight and I should have."