Nonito Donaire retained the Interim WBA Super Flyweight championship with a third round stoppage over late replacement and undersized Manuel Vargas at The Hilton Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
The size disparity was evident early as Donaire pushed Vargas back anytime he needed to with his punches. Vargas was very guarded early as the former minimumweight title challenger knew he was really up against the odds on this night. In round three, Donaire landed a heavy three punch combination that was capped off by a big uppercut that sent Vargas down flat on his back for referee Joe Cortez ten count at 1:33 of round five.
Donaire, 115 lbs of General Santos City, Philippines will now look for a Summer showdown rematch with Vic Darchinyan as his record now stands at 23-1 with fifteen knockouts. Vargas, 114 lbs of Laguas De Moreno, Mexico is now 26-5-1
Fernando Montiel remained his WBO Bantamweight title with a body shot knockout over Ciso Morales.
Montiel landed a left to the body and a grazing right that sent Morales down for referee Robert Byrd’s ten count and the bout was waved off at 2:06.
Montiel, 118 lbs of Los Mochis, Mexico is now 40-2-2 with thirty knockouts. Morales, 118 lbs of Talabon Bohol, Philippines is now 14-1.
Gerry Penalosa turned back the clock and fought through two nasty cuts but showed his experience but still came up on the short end of a close split decision loss to Eric Morel in a WBO Interim Bantamweight title bout.
Morel boxed very well over the over the first few rounds as he jabbed and moved in and out befuddling Penalosa. That didn’t last long as Penalosa was very patient and began to apply pressure in little bunches as he would land some pesky three and four punch combinations. In round six, two accidental headbutts opened up two separate cuts around the eyes of Penalosa but despite the blood, the fight was allowed to continue and that seemed to light a fire under Penalosa.
Penalosa looked to be getting the better of the action over the second half of the fight with his work rate whereas Morel would land some jabs and move but not many power shots behind them. Penalosa could very well have taken five of the last six rounds but it wasn’t to be as Morel got the split decision by scored of 116-112; 115-113 with Penalosa gaining a card 115-113.
Morel, 117 lbs of Madison, WI vis San Juan , PR now will gain a shot at Fernando Montiel with a record of 42-2. Penalosa, 118 lbs of San Caious, Philippines is now 54-8-2.
Bernabe Concepcion hung on for a unanimous decision over Mario Santiago in a Featherweight elimination bout.
Concepcion had a lot of success early as he landed winging rights hands and backed up Santiago with some flush shots. Santiago was jabbing but little else as he ate those shots. In round six, a booming right sent Santiago to the deck and and he was hurt. Concepcion tried to end things but Santiago held him off and landed a enough shots that Concepcion was backing off towards the end of the round.
Concepcion took the next couple rounds to build up his comfortable lead on the cards. Santiago got foing towards the end of the ninth and carried that momentum into the final round as he rocked Concepcion with a barrage of punches against the ropes and Concepcion looked to be in trouble. Concepcion tried to fire back in a wildly entertaining exchange that thrilled the crowd for the last thirty seconds of the fight.
It was too little, too late fro Santiago as Concepcion, 126 lbs of Catandunes, Philippines, won by scores of 98-91; 96-93; 97-92 to raise his record to 28-3-1and earn a shot at WBO champion Juan Manuel Lopez in June. Santiago, 126 lbs of Ponce, Puerto Rico is now 21-2-1.
Photos by Chris Farina/Top Rank
