Nonito Donaire regains old title after defeating Cesar Juarez in a 'Fight of the Year ' candidate
By Rich Mazon
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 12 Dec 2015
Nonito Donaire regained his former World Boxing Organization Super Bantamweight (122 pound) title by beating a tough foe in Cesar Juarez in 12 barbarous rounds at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico Friday night.
Donaire (35-3) dominated the first half of the fight with crisp and accurate counters to the head and the body of Juarez (17-3). The former bantamweight and super bantamweight champion and 2012 Fighter of the Year scored two knockdowns in the 4th round but Juarez recovered from the twin knockdowns and survived the round.
The Filipino star attempted to finish the job in the succeeding round but Juarez would hold on and mounted a strong response by forcing Donaire to the ropes.
Tides changed in the 6th when Donaire slipped after an exchange between the two fighters and Donaire limped to his corner after the round. His corner assessed and massaged his left leg during the one minute break but returned to fight in the 7th.
Juarez took advantage of an ailing and tiring Donaire, forcing his opponent to retreat to the ropes with non-stop pressure and punching. His assault produced swelling and bleeding on both of Donaire's eyes and altered Donaire's early plans of a knockout.
Donaire fell to the canvas again in the 10th after getting hit by Juarez but the referee ruled it as a slip.
Juarez had Donaire in trouble in the same round as he poured flurries over an exhausted opponent but Donaire did not succumb to the punishment and was even able to answer with cracking counters to the head of Juarez while under fire.
Tiring and bleeding from the harsh exchange of punches in the last 11 rounds, the two fighters engaged in another brutal battle in the 12th and final round. Juarez again forced Donaire in the ropes where he was previously successful but Donaire refused to go down from the attack and unleashed viscous replies of his own via uppercuts and left hooks.
After the war, Donaire was favored by the three judges at ringside with scores of 116-110 (twice) and 117-109 over Juarez.
With the victory, Donaire regained the WBO 122 pound title which he lost to Guillermo Rigondeux in 2013.
"I am so amazingly blessed and I am so thankful. We gave it everything we've got," uttered a victorious Donaire after the bout.
The new champion also gave credit to Juarez, whom he described as the toughest fight of his career.
"The guy was amazing. The guy was strong. And even if my foot was injured or not, he was going to give it the same way and it was going to be a tough fight still. I got to give it to him," Donaire said.
"I think that was the toughest fight of my life. That was an amazing fight."
With the exciting outcome of this championship match, Donaire versus Juarez will no doubt be in consideration for 2015's Fight of The Year honors.
You can reach the author at rrmaze24@aol.com and @Freemazon910.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rich Mazon .
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