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American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, Texas - More than six years after their first meeting, Nonito Donaire (32-2, 21KOs) knocked out Vic Darchinyan (39-6-1, 28KOs) in the ninth round of their rematch. In the first fight, Donaire knocked out Darchinyan in five rounds. Donaire returns for the first time since the April decision loss to Guillermo Rigondeaux.
At the time of the stoppage, Darchinyan was leading 78-74 on two of the cards and it was a draw on the third.
The first round was slow, but they really opened up with their punches in the second. Both guys appeared to get buzzed in the second with the exchange of hard punches. Darchinyan, Donaire had their moments in rounds three and four, with Darchinyan landing the more eye-catching shots. They went to war at the end of the fourth, with both landing big shots. The fifth was close, with Darchinyan close it very strong with a big flurry as he trapped Donaire against the ropes.
During the sixth, both had their moments and landed good shots. Darchinyan picked up the pace and appeared to edge the seventh round. And Darchinyan's workrate seemed to take the eight, as Donaire's nose began to bleed.
In the ninth, Donaire caught Darchinyan with a big bomb that put him down on his face. Darchinyan beat the count, but his legs were gone and Donaire worked him over until the referee stopped the fight.
