By Jake Donovan

Nonito Donaire continues to plead his case as the best flyweight in the world, even if he has little to no desire to stick around at the weight. If it is in fact his last fight at 112, he went out with a bang, dominating previously unbeaten Raul Martinez en route to a fourth round knockout in the main event of their pay-per-view televised bout.

The show aired live from the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Manila, Philippines.

While not quite a pick-‘em fight, few expected Donaire to completely walk through Martinez the way he did. The Filipino established his dominance from the opening bell and never let up. A right hand rocked Martinez, to which Donaire immediately went on the attack. Martinez weathered the storm, wisely holding on to buy some time. Donaire regrouped and came through with a left hook that landed on the chin to produce the bout’s first knockdown, two minutes into the fight.

A right, left, right combination put Martinez in the deck for a second time moments before what had to feel like the longest round of his young career.

The course of the bout didn’t change in the early going. Donaire scored his third knockdown of the fight early in the second round, courtesy of a left hook which came immediately after Martinez connected on a right hand.

Martinez managed to enjoy a knockdown-free third round, but largely due to remaining on the defensive for much of the round, sacrificing his offense in the process.

Referee Pete Podgorski paid Martinez’ corner a visit to ensure the San Antonio boxer was still able to defend himself and offer something in return. Martinez’ corner also urged their fighter to offer anything to gain Donaire’s respect.

Despite the pep rallies and speeches, the fourth round played out the same as its predecessors. The biggest difference was that it would be the last of the fight.

Martinez remained behind a tight guard, offering little in the way of offense. Donaire remained poised, well aware that he was in control and that the ending was there whenever he wanted it.

He found it in a big way, landing a perfectly placed left uppercut following a right hand. Martinez never stood a chance, as he was driven backwards to the canvas for the bout’s fourth knockdown. It would be the very last, as the referee waved off the fight without a count, despite a brisk in-ring protest from Martinez who felt he had more fight left in him.

The official time was 2:42 of round four.

Donaire improves to 21-1 (14KO) with the win, his 20th straight, dating back to June 2001 and his third pro fight. He is also in the midst of a five-fight knockout streak in making the third defense of the flyweight title he violently snatched from Vic Darchinyan in July 2007.

The bout was Donaire’s first since 2002 in his native home land of the Philippines, having lived there from birth until he was 10 years old, when he and his family moved to the United States. More are expected to come, though most likely not at flyweight. Despite establishing himself as the best flyweight in the world, Donaire complained afterwards of his legs not feeling at full capacity, suggesting that a move to 115 or even 118 is in his immediate future.

Martinez has spent most of his career at higher weights before dropping down to flyweight for the biggest fight to date. The night ends with his suffering his first professional loss, dropping to 24-1 (14KO). The 27-year old still has plenty of time to recover and come back, though at what weight it takes place remains to be seen.

VILORIA STRETCHES SOLIS

2000 US Olympic junior flyweight Brian Viloria went from a former titlist on his last lap to a two-time champion thanks to a career best performance against Ulises “Archie” Solis in the televised co-feature. Viloria’s right hand was the dominant weapon, landing all night before scoring a highlight reel knockout at 2:56 of the 11th round.

Viloria acknowledged before the fight that this was his last chance at restoring glory in his rapidly fading career. He fought like a man on a mission all night, jumping out to a big lead and holding off a mid-rounds surge from Solis to rally late in the fight and close to the show in emphatic fashion.

Solis was committed to a body attack, but often strayed too low, as he was warned for low blows in the second round, and then twice in the fifth before losing a point. The Mexican was also forced to contend with a cut outside of his right eye, one which Viloria treated like a bulls-eye.

The fight ending sequence came toward the end of the 11th. The two were at close quarters when Viloria dodged the incoming and fired back with a compact right hand that literally cracked as it landed flush on Solis’ chin. It would be the last punch of the fight, as Solis remained on the deck for the full ten-count and longer, as he was slow to rise and leave the ring.

For Viloria, it’s his second tour as an alphabet titlist as he improves to 25-2 (15KO). His first reign was short-lived, winning a belt in September 2005 and only making one successful defense before conceding the crown to Omar Nino 11 months later.

The loss marked a dark period in which he went 0-2 and one no-contest in an eight month stretch. He returned nine months later, having since won six straight including what easily ranks as the best win of his career. 

An 11-fight unbeaten streak is snapped for Solis, who suffers his first loss in five years. The Mexican McNulty drops to 28-2-2 (20KO) overall. He entered the fight having reigned as a junior flyweight titlist for more than three years, racking up eight successful defenses along the way.

OTHER ACTION

Hard-luck strawweight Denver Cuello continues to creep toward contention, extending his unbeaten streak to 11 (9-0-2 over that stretch) with a 4th round knockout of Hiroshi Matsumoto (18-10-4, 8KO). Cuello (16-2-5, 8KO) scored knockdowns in rounds three and four, with the final knockdown coming courtesy of a right uppercut to end the fight.

Crowd favorite Sonny Boy Jaro (30-7-5, 19KO) made quick work of Eriberto Gejon, dusting him off in just 74 seconds. Jaro has now fought twice in 2009. Both fights took place at the Araneta Coliseum, and both resulting in first-round knockouts.

The show was presented by Top Rank Inc.

 

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com and a voting member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Contact Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com .