DONAIRE DEMOLISHES ARCE IN THREE ROUNDS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 16 Dec 2012
HOUSTON, TX -- Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire demolished Mexican warrior Jorge "Travieso" Arce in three rounds before a noisy crowd of over 7,500 predominantly Mexican fans at the Toyota Center here in Houston, Texas on Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) in a spectacular demonstration of speed, power and ring savvy.
In a fight card aptly termed "Demolition Day" by ABS-CBN that telecast the fight over Channel 2 and to Filipino audiences in the Middle East and Australia over The Filipino Channel, Donaire redeemed the pain suffered by last week's shocking sixth round knockout of Manny Pacquiao by Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez.
Arce had vowed to duplicate the feat of Marquez telling us that "anything is possible" but Donaire didn't give him a chance. In a strange coincidence the knockout came with one second to go in round three, just like Pacquiao's painful loss.
A group of Filipino fans who carried a huge Philippine flag and chanted Donaire's name expressed elation at seeing Donaire redeem national pride with a spectacular victory that cements his stature as the best 122 pound fighter in the world today.
Just like he did when he scored a 9th round stoppage over Japan's Toshiaki Nishioka last October 13 who retired after the beating Arce also announced his retireemt atop the ring after praising Donaire for his performance.
Arce said "my career is over, I am leaving after the best man."
Donaire used his left jab and threw an occasional right in a feeling out opening round where he told Dyan Castillejo in a post fight interview that he felt heavy.
His wife Rachel Donaire explained that as early as 6:30 pm her husband was restless and said he wanted to get it on right away and that the late hour when the fight finally began, he felt a little sluggish.
Donaire quickly got into his rhythm and nailed Arce with a solid right and dropped him one minute into the second round. The punch was similar to the one that dropped Nishioka in round six at the Home Depot Center in California some two months ago.
In the third round Donaire caught Arce with a right hand followed by a left uppercut and dropped him for the second time in the fight. Despite being hurt, Arce clawed back like a true warrior and even hurt Donaire with a solid right to the body but the consummate champion countered with a vicious left hook that had proved lethal against such greats as Vic Darchinyan, Fernando Montiel, Wilfredo Vazquez Jr and Jeffrey Mathebula who broke his jaw in two places.
The devastating three-punch combination that culminated with the left hook resulted in Arce crashing into the ropes and lying sprawled on his back with referee Laurence Cole not even bothering to count as Arce'a brother Francisco was about to throw in the towel.
In a post fight interview Donaire said "I pretty much timed him. We knew that he was going to open up. He was a tough guy. He actually got me in the body. I caught him with a good straight right hand and that counter hook came in."
Donaire revealed that "a lot of fans said you got to get him because this is for the Philippines but I love Mexico as well. Mexican fighters are tough and I have the best respect for all of them. I' m hoping the Filipinos can be proud of what I've done tonight."
While his injured left hand had healed 90 percent following the Nishioka fight when it was ripped open and required nine stitches, Donaire conceded that they were "kind of nervous coming into this fight. I never really hit with the left hook but I was ready to go out there no matter what."
Arce's promoter Fernando Beltran told the Manila Standard "I am sad but I am happy because Donaire is a tremendous fighter and he's going to be around for a long, long time. Arce tried, he was not running, not like the Japanese but he was trying and he was not embarrassed. Nonito is a great champion and I wish him the best."
WBO president Francisco "Paco" Valcarcel told us Donaire "is very good and every day he gets much better and a more mature fighter, very smart and in good shape. He looked good. He knows how to move, he didn't receive punches. He was great. He knows Arce but give credit to Arce , he finished like a warrior tonight."
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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