FLASH?S FIRE
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 06 Feb 2012
Setting aside the rather bizarre score of Ruben Garcia,115-112, in favor of Wilfredo Vasquez,Jr., it was a masterful performance turned in by Nonito Donaire,Jr. at the Alamodome. The Filipino Flash systematically broke down his Puerto Rican opponent with his rapier jab and powerful left hooks and whistling right straights. Vasquez offered little in the form of retaliation in the early rounds.
Donaire (28W-1L, 18 KO?s) had to drop his hands and do a little showboating to keep things interesting. I thought that he did not want a repeat of the Omar Narvaez borefest when he goaded Vasquez to get out of his defensive shell. His injured hand had something to do with it as well, as he revealed in a post-fight interview. Donaire can get away with a lot of things; he has the speed and reflexes reminiscent of a prime Roy Jones and Naseem Hamed.
Vasquez (21W-2L, 18 KO?s) increased his punch output in the middle rounds but Donaire?s left hook derailed the Puerto Rican?s plans to mount a rally. Vasquez was dropped in round nine and it seemed the end was near. But Vasquez managed to go the twelve round distance. Still, the gap in class was unmistakeable especially when you consider that Donaire fought with one hand; Blood was oozing from the hand wraps when he showed it on television. I agree with judges Levi Martinez and Don Trella?s scores of 117-110.
Donaire won the vacant WBO junior featherweight world title and has distinguished himself in four weight divisions.
I hope the injury will not sideline Donaire for an extended period. There are great fights to be made at the 122 pound division. Belt holders like Toshiaki Nishioka and Guillermo Rigondeaux and former champ Jorge Arce are some of the names being floated around for him.
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