DONAIRE REPEATS OVER DARCHINYAN WITH 9TH ROUND TKO WIN
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 10 Nov 2013
All that Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire needed was to reprise the vicious left hook that knocked out Vic ?The Raging Bull? Darchinyan in the 5th round on July 7, 2007 to stop the three-division world champion once again in their eagerly-awaited rematch at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, Sunday Manila Time.
It was a vastly different Darchinyan who gave Donaire?s corner some anxious moments as an overly cautious Donaire, looking to regain his status as a pound for pound fighter after his stunning loss to two-time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux last November, failed to find his range or rhythm against a methodical Darchinyan who appeared to get the better of some toe-to-toe exchanges in rounds four and five.
After Donaire wobbled Darchinyan with a right in round two, Drachinyan?s trainer admonished the Australian and told him ?I don?t want him to get you with the right hand again.?
Rather than his vaunted left hook which he figured Darchinyan prepared for, Donaire banked on his right to do the damage but after Darchinyan connected with big left hands in rounds 4 and 5, trainer Robert Garcia told Nonito ?don?t stand in front of him? while Darchinyan?s corner sensed they had the momentum and commended the southpaw for ?beautiful work? and cautioned ?everybody stay relaxed.?
Darchinyan kept connecting with his left and appeared to try to steal some of the middle rounds with last second flurries a couple of them continuing even after the bell while Donaire only had a right counter to show for his efforts.
A worried Garcia told Donaire at the end of the 8th round with his father, Nonito ?Dodong? Donaire Sr also jumping in to support Robert, ?throw more punches. You can?t win this fight by throwing one punch? which Donaire appeared to be relying on much of the time.
Taking their admonition to heart Donaire caught Darchinyan who in a throwback moment to his usual fighting style lunged forward to keep the pressure on Donaire and got nailed with his patented left hook and went down.
A decidedly groggy Darchinyan who looked to his corner for solace beat the count before Donaire went for the kill, swarming all over the dazed Aussie with a barrage of heavy handed shots including one mighty uppercut that effectively bludgeoned Darchinyan, forcing referee Laurence Cole to call a halt at 2:06 of the round.
At the time of the stoppage two of the three judges had Darchinyan inexplicably ahead by four points, 78-74 which translated into giving him six of the eight rounds while the third judge had it even at 76-76.
In a post-fight interview with the Manila Standard, Donaire said ?that?s their opinion but I never wanted to leave it in their hands.?
Donaire revealed ?I think there might be a little fracture in my cheek because I got hit hard a few times on the same side and the accumulation of punches on the same spot may have fractured my cheekbone. We?ll have it checked and have the injury fixed first? which meant postponing his planned return to Manila on November 13.
He also disclosed that ?both my hands are bruised.?
Donaire didn't wish to make excuses but disclosed that he had a touch of the flu this past week which he described as ?unfortunate and we didn?t start up nearly as much as we wanted to. It was a tough one.?
Donaire admitted ?we got away with it today but we can?t do that in the next fight. We have to get back to the drawing boards.?
He said this time around Drachinyan ?was very careful, very tough. He learned a lot, used a lot of movement while we hesitated.?
Informed that Manny Pacquiao called this reporter who was doing the fight coverage on ABS-CBN Channel 2 along with Atty. Ed Tolentino to find out what happened to the Donaire fight, Nonito said ?please thank him. I wish him the best. He?ll do fine? in his showdown in Macau against Brandon ?Bam Bam? Rios on November 24.
Donaire carried his baby son Jarel into the ring and lifted him high above his head and told us, ?he is amazing. He is my inspiration.?
At the same time he dedicated his victory to those who had suffered in the recent major earthquake and the horrific super storm Yolanda which cut a swath of death and massive destruction through the Visayas and Mindanao and said ?This win is not mine, it's for the Philippines. Let us pray for those who suffered so much. And thank you for your support.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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