In a clash for the vacant WBO super bantamweight belt, Nonito Donaire (28-1, 18 KOs) scored a hard fought twelve round split decision over former champ Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. (21-2-1, 17 KOs) despite Donaire’s damaged left hand that was soaked in blood when his glove was removed after the fight.
“Vazquez was tougher than I expected,” said Donaire, who thought the hand was broken. “I couldn’t find my rhythm, and I hurt my hand somewhere between the second and fourth rounds. I could only move it a little bit.”
Vasquez had his most productive round of the fight as he caught Donaire with a couple of straight right hands to the head in the fifth. Donaire, making his debut in the 122-pound weight class, looked frustrated at times Vasquez started to turn the tide in round six as he was connecting with some solid shots to the head area of Donaire. Donaire finally broke through in the ninth round when he caught Vazquez, 27, with a left uppercut followed by a hard left hand that dropped Vazquez.
“I’m definitely staying at 122 for awhile,” Donaire said. “There are things [trainer] Robert [Garcia] asked me to do that I couldn’t do so well, so we will go back to the drawing board.”
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said the next fight for Donaire probably will be Arce, who vacated the title Donaire won to move down and claim one of the bantamweight belts Donaire had relinquished. Arce would move back up to 122 to challenge Donaire.
That judge that had Vazquez winning should be questioned. I dont know what fight he or she was watching but it wasnt the same one Johnny and I was watching lol.
This was a pretty good fight, both fighters put on a gritty performance. The right guy won the fight but one judge’s scorecard was ridiculous. Some of these clowns should lose their license.
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