Donaire?s class and Francisco?s glitter
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 05 Dec 2010
It was bloody and one-sided. Nonito 'The Filipino Flash' Donaire showed why he is ranked among the top five best pound for pound best boxers in the world with a fourth round annihilation of Vladimir Sydorenko. It was clear from the opening round that a huge gulf of size and skill separated both fighters.
A left-right combination dropped the Ukrainian in the first and his face was reddened by the Filipino?s accurate sniping in the second round. Donaire scored another knockdown in the third courtesy of a well timed left hook. Donaire was also an elusive target as his rapier like jab kept Sydorenko at bay.
In the fourth, a sharp left jab quickly followed by a right straight sent Sydorenko down on one knee with blood pouring out of his nose. The referee mercifully stopped the bout at the 1:48 mark.
The 35-year-old Sidorenko (22W-3L-2D, 7 KOs) suffered the first stoppage loss of his career. He is a former Olympic bronze medalist and a former WBA world bantamweight champion but Donaire made him look like your average pedestrian.
This fight was for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Bantamweight title and more importantly a world title eliminator of sorts for the right to face WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel this February.
Despite his lofty pound for pound status, the 28 year old Donaire (25-1 L, 17KO?s) said that he will only consider himself an elite fighter if he beats Montiel. With this performance, he has shown that he deserves his super fight.
On the same day, Filipino boxing fans got to see on television Drian Francisco?s title winning performance in Thailand. The fight held last November 30 was for the WBA interim superflyweight belt vacated by Donaire and Francisco showed that he was a worthy successor.
Boxing pundits were wondering before this fight if Francisco?s awkward style would be a boon or a bane when he fights on the road for the first time. His opponent, Duangpetch Kokietgym (52-2-1 ,21 KOs) was a rugged veteran who frequently targeted the Francisco family jewels.
This was not an honorable way of breaking an opponent?s concentration and momentum but that is something our boxers have to contend with when they fight in enemy territory. Still, referee Steve Smoger should have done a better job. I wonder if there is a world record for warnings given for low blows.
But Drian kept his cool. In the 4th round he was given a brief rest to recuperate from the shots landing south of the border. In between he landed punches from inconceivable angles, half hooks, half bolo punches and uppercuts on the move. His moves bring back memories of Britain?s Prince Naseem Hamed.
But the Thai kept going forward and a point was finally deducted from him in the sixth round. Drian?s left jab right uppercut combination send the Thai down twice. Duangpetch was saved by the bell and still tried to make a fight out of it in the next 3 rounds.
But a brutal three punch combo sent Kokietgym face first to the canvas as the Filipino?s corner celebrated. The 28 year old known as ?Gintong Kamao? or Golden fists showed the heart and character to overcome adversity.
His glittering feat also made us remember another gutsy road warrior who won on Thai soil, Luisito Espinosa. We hope Francisco (20-0-1, 16 KOs) will get a chance to fight WBA world superflyweight champion Hugo Cazares of Mexico or any of the belt holders out there in the near future.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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