By Rick Reeno

Home Depot Center, Los Angeles, California - WBO/IBF super bantamweight champion Nontito Donaire (31-0-1, 22KOs) stopped Japanese veteran Toshiaki Nishioka (39-5-3, 24KOs) in the ninth round, capturing the WBC's Diamond title.

The fight was very tactical for the first five and a half rounds - until Donaire dropped Nishioka in the final minute of the sixth round. Nishioka appeared to be fine when he made it to his feet and at that point a fight broke out with the two of them trading hard punches. Donaire was getting the better of the exchanges.

The fireworks were short lived, as the tactical fight continued in the seventh round. Nishioka swept the action with a series of hard punches in the final minute and was doing well in the eight. During the ninth, Nishioka had Donaire against the ropes and was throwing hard shots - but then Donaire caught him cold with a hard counter to put him down for the second time in the fight. Nishioka was able to make it up, but his legs appeared to be gone and his corner threw in the towel to stop the fight.

Tags: Nonito Donaire , Toshiaki Nishioka , Donaire-Nishioka , Donaire vs Nishioka