WBA interim world super flyweight champion “The Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire defeated last-minute challenger Manuel “Chango” Vargas by third round knockout Saturday night at the Las Vegas Hilton.
Donaire (23-1, 15 KOs), rated by The Ring as the number six pound-for-pound boxer in the world, was initially scheduled to fight Gerson Guerrero (34-8, 26 KOs).
Unfortunately, Guerrero, 28, was forced to withdraw from the championship matchup after he failed his pre-fight eye exam on Wednesday.
“It was a crazy week, “ said Donaire, 27, a native of the Philippines who is also the former IBF and IBO flyweight titlist. “It didn’t matter who I fought, I simply tried to figure him out.”
It certainly didn’t take long for Donaire to “figure out” Vargas (25-3-1, 11 KOs). “The Filipino Flash” dominated Vargas through the first two rounds before he floored “Chango” with a violent uppercut at 1:33 in the third.
“It was a matter of relaxing and working my game plan,” said Donaire. “I went side to side, leading with the jab, then landed that hard uppercut.”
Donaire has not been trumped in the ring since he lost a unanimous decision to Rosendo Sanchez in March 2001.
Donaire is young and very skilled and it is difficult to imagine that he won’t continue to dominate his division for many more years.
“The Filipino Flash” is simply here to stay.
Keywords: boxing, Nonito Donaire
