The 'Filipino Flash' Nonito Donaire (R) floors Jorge Arce of Mexico with a left hook during the WBO World Super Bantamweight bout at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on December 15 (December 16 Manila time), 2012. Scott Halleran/AFP
(UPDATED 12:56 P.M.) There was a lot of pressure on Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire to exact revenge against Jorge “Travieso” Arce after Manny Pacquiao lost to Juan Manuel Marquez last week. Both Marquez and Arce are Mexican.
Donaire delivered as he finished off Arce in three rounds to defend his WBO and Ring Maganze Super Bantamweight title on Sunday. The Filipino Flash floored Arce twice before polishing him off with one of his signature left hooks in the third round to end the fight. The official time was 2:59 of the third round.
Both fighters started the match tentatively but it was Donaire who opened up first with a big right hand. The action picked up in the second round as Donaire floored Arce for the first time in the match. Donaire weaved under an Arce punch before connecting with a short right of his own to knock Arce down. The gallant Mexican warrior opened up with a couple of lead rights that landed but he was not able to hurt Donaire.
In the third round, 30-year-old Donaire caught 33-year-old Arce with a series of left uppercuts for the second knockdown of the fight. Arce was able to beat the count but he was on wobbly legs at that point. Donaire put him out of his misery with a lead left hook to end the fight and Arce’s career.
Donaire weighed in at 129 pounds before the fight while Arce jumped three weight classes overnight to weigh in at 135 pounds. The Filipino landed 28 of 93 in the fight while Arce only managed 13 of 96.
With his big win, Donaire upped his record to 31-1-0, with 20 coming via stoppage while Arce will retire after 70 professional bouts with the record of 61-7-2, with 46 knockouts.
The Filipino Flash upped his 2012
record to a clean 4-0. He started by defeating Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. for
the WBO super bantamweight title. He then appended the IBF title by
winning over Jeffrey Mathebula back in July before defeating Toshiaki
Nishioka just last October.
“I want (Abner)
Mares next because he is calling me out. But if it doesn't work out, we
can fight (Guillermo) Rigondeaux,” said Donaire after the fight.
However, Donaire is looking forward to spending time out of the ring to
give his broken left hand more time to heal.
Donaire’s win was also the clincher in a three-fight championship boxing
series between the Philippines and Mexico. Brian Viloria started the
series with a big 10-round stoppage of Hernan Marquez back in November.
Juan Manuel Marquez then tied it with a sixth round knockout over Manny
Pacquiao last week.
The fight also marked the
end of commentator Larry Merchant’s legendary career. Donaire-Arce was
the last fight that Merchant has covered in his 35-year career for HBO
Sports. --LBG/KDM/HS/RAF, GMA News
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