RIVETING RIVALRY WEEKEND
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 20 Feb 2011
Nonito Donaire proved that he is an elite fighter with his second round demolition of Fernando Montiel. The Mexican was Donaire's first big name opponent since he knocked out Vic Darchinyan of Australia for the IBF flyweight title in 2007. With the win Donaire not only took Montiel's WBC and WBO world title belts but also wrote his own bloody chapter in the ongoing Philippines vs. Mexico boxing rivalry.
It wasn't really that much of a rivalry when it was just Manny Pacquiao against the Mexican boxing superstars. Montiel was the name opponent that Donaire needed to win big under the bright lights of Las Vegas.
Donaire's powerful left hook in the second round sent defending champion Montiel sprawling into the canvas and into a brief convulsion before the Mexican miraculously got up. But Donaire pounced on him and with Montiel unable to protect himself, the referee stopped the fight at 2:25 of the round.
Montiel, from Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico had experience on his side having won three titles in three different weights and has fought at the world championship level since 2000.
But Donaire, from San Leandro, California by way of Talibon, Bohol and Gen. Santos City, made good use of his height and reach advantage from the opening bell. His long jab was sharp and on target and had no trouble tagging Montiel with one-two combinations.
The man known as the Filipino Flash is now 26W-1L, 18 KO's while Montiel drops to 44W-3L-2D, 34 KO's.
Mark Jason Melligen of the ALA Gym of Cebu maximized his moment under the spotlight with an impressive unanimous decision win over Gabriel Martinez of Mexico after ten rounds of a hard fought welterweight in the undercard of the Montiel-Donaire bantamweight superfight at the Mandalay Events Center.
Both boxers chose their spots well in landing combinations to the body and head. Melligen had the edge in the power department and slowly built a lead in the volume department as well. The Mexican was falling behind and decided to have a last ditch stand in the ninth round. But the southpaw from Bacolod City weathered the onslaught and finished strong by landing the cleaner blows in the final round. The scores - 99-91, 99-91 and 98-92.
Melligen is now 21W-2L with 14 knockouts and handed Martinez his second career defeat. He drops to 27W-2L-1D with 14 KOs.
Mercito ?No Mercy? Gesta of Mandaue City started the weekend on a winning note for the Philippines when he punished Genaro Trazancos of Mexico for three rounds including a powerful left to the jaw that staggered the Mexican in the third. The ring physician mercifully ended matters by advising the referee to stop the fight seconds before start of the fourth round. Gesta was declared winner by third round TKO.
The Cebuano southpaw remains unbeaten with a single draw and is now 21W-0L-1D with 11 KO'S. Trazancos drops to 24W-14L-3D with 14 KO's.
The fight held in San Francisco was the second meeting between the two. Gesta stopped Trazancos in seven round during their first encounter.
Mercito's parents ? Anecito and Mercedes ? watched the fight on the internet before accepting the special citation on his behalf from Cebu Sportswriters during the 29th SAC-SMB Cebu Sports awards held Saturday afternoon at the Ayala Activity Center.
The winner of the Athlete of the Year of the said awards was WBO minimumweight champion Donnie ?Ahas? Nietes. For the past three years he has fought and defended his title in the heartland of boxing powerhouse Mexico.
Last August 12, 2010, challenger Mario ?Dragoncito? Rodriguez took him to deep waters in the sauna-like heat of Guasave. But Nietes would not be denied. Against the jeers of an unfriendly crowd, fighting fatigue and trying to stave off his opponent's last desperate stand, Nietes made sure the title would remain in Filipino hands.
A Herculean effort by a diminutive unassuming man who fights at 105 lbs. Nietes in his own silent but effective way, made his mark in the pages of the ongoing rivalry.
He is scheduled to defend against another Mexican, Raul Garcia possibly in April. Cebu Sports scribes hope to see him defend his title at home this time around.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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