BY Rey Danseco
FILIPINO fighter Glenn Donaire has became the second boxer in the family to become champion when he dethroned American Cesar "El Gallito" Lopez and then won the vacant title at stake in their 12-round bout Friday night at the Lucky Star Casino in Concho, Oklahoma.
Donaire, 26, controlled the fight from the beginning with his aggressiveness and his harder punch slowed down the slick-punching champion from Texas.
With the win, the 5-foot-5 Donaire took Lopez' North American Boxing Association (NABA) flyweight belt and claim the vacant version of the title under North American Boxing Organization (NABO).
After the victory, the Bohol-born residence of San Leandro in California expects a place in the top 10 of the world rankings of the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization.
Donaire took help in the corner by his father-trainer Nonito Donaire Sr., whose other son, Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire is the reigning North American Boxing Federation super flyweight champion.
Judges scored the bout, 115-112, 117-110, and 116-111, all in favor of Donaire, who weighed 111 ½ pounds, about point five pounds heavier than Lopez. He improves to 16-2-1 with nine by way of short routes.
Lopez's record dropped to 18-3, 4 Kos in his back-to-back defeat after losing to fellow Texan Gabriel Elizondo in December.
Nonito was actually Lopez's original foe in that main event of Gary Shaw Productions card that was telecast in the United States by Showtime through its Cinco de Mayo weekend program.
The 23-year old Nonito, who was born in General Santos City, was badly hurt to the jaw by Glenn's uppercut during their sparring at US Karate and Boxing Gym in Hayward, California early last month.
The young Donaire was rushed to the nearest hospital in Fremont City and was advised to prevent his jaw from getting punched again until June 10.
