Filipino boxing superstar Nonito Donaire Jr. reminds the boxing world that he is still a force to be reckoned with after a two round destruction of Brazilian William Prado to claim the vacant NABF super bantamweight title on Saturday night at the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
With a punishing display of power, Donaire showed glimpses of the fighter who dominated the super bantamweight division years ago.
Donaire set the tone early by throwing jabs and uppercuts against his tough Brazilian opponent. The former world title challenger Prado petrified as he went into full defensive mode most of the round respecting the power of the 32-year-old five division champion.
The fight was a one-way affair with Donaire pummeling Prado, who became a sitting duck, as he was unable to effectively get his offense going. The end came at 2:16 mark of the second round as a flurry of power bombs from Donaire stunned and bloodied his Brazilian foe that forced referee Bruce McTavish to stop the fight.
In the post fight interview the Bohol native Donaire expressed his desire to be a world champion again.
“Me and my team will look on the situation and see whats the available opportunity for me. I still have my power and I’m mentally and physically prepared. Hopefully I can fight for the title again,” said Donaire “I will fight anyone of them. I’m all in”
The victory improves Donaire’s record to 34-3-1 with 22 KO’s and will put him back to the title mix after claiming the vacant NABF 122 title while Prado drops to 22-5-1 with 15 KO’s.
In the main event ALA boxing star and junior flyweight maestro Donnie “Ahas” Nietes (35-1-4, 21 KO’s) scored a ninth round TKO over Gilberto Parra (19-3, 17 KOs) of Mexico to retain his WBO World Junior Flyweight title.
The longest reigning Filipino world champion was all business from the get the go. His Mexican challenger, though, also displayed amazing courage in front of a hostile crowd early in the fight as he traded power shots against Nietes. The 32-year-old Nietes took over the fight as he stunned Parra with a short left hook to the jaw in the fourth round. Nietes dominated and hurt Parra in round 7 with solid shots to the head. A solid straight right hand from Nietes dropped Parra in the eighth. Parra went into full survival mode in the 9th round as he got cut in the left eye from a Nietes right hook.
The end came before the start of the tenth round when referee Jack Reiss stopped the fight following the advice of the ring physician due to the nasty cut on the left eye of Parra that was caused by a legal punch from Nietes.
“I just need to be patient, that’s what my team always reminding me. Parra is a tough opponent, but once he felt my power I know things will be easy for me. I just need to be patient and wait for the perfect timing,” quipped the two division champion Nietes.
This was Nietes’ sixth successful defense of the WBO 108 title after winning it last October 2011 against Ramon Garcia Hirales of Mexico in Bacolod city. Prior to winning the 108 belt, Nietes was also the 105 world champion winning the WBO minimumweight title back in 2007 and successfully defended it four times
After defeating Parra, the newly inducted member of the Elorde Hall of Famer, Nietes, is scheduled to face his mandatory challenger Francisco Rodriguez Jr of Mexico this coming July in Cebu
In one of the featured bouts of the evening, undefeated ALA boxing wonder kid Albert “Prince” Pagara (23-0, 16 KO’s) displayed a masterful performance against the hard hitting Rodolfo Hernandez of Mexico en route to a fourth round TKO to retain his IBF Inter-Continental super bantamweight title.
The 21-year-old champion showed his intentions of ending the fight early as he dropped Hernandez in the first round with a picture-perfect straight right hand.
Pagara’s power and agility was the difference as he rocked his Mexican challenger throughout the fight. The end came at the end of the fourth round with the Mexican challenger unable to continue to fight.
With the victory improves his perfect to 23-0 with 16 KO’s, while Hernandez dropped to 26-6-1 with 24 KO’s
Pinoy Pride 30: D-Day Results
March 28, 2015 – Smart Araneta Coliseum, Quezon City
WBO World Junior Flyweight Championship: Donnie “Ahas” Nietes def. Gilberto “Parrita” Parra via TKO9 (Doctor’s Stoppage) to retain the WBO World Junior Flyweight Championship
WBC NABF Super Bantamweight Championship: “The Filipino Flash” Nonito Donaire def. William Prado via TKO2 to win the WBC NABF Super Bantamweight Championship
IBF Intercontinental Junior Featherweight Championship: “Prince” Albert Pagara def. Rodolfo “Fofo” Hernandez via TKO5 (Doctor’s Stoppage) to retain the IBF Intercontinantal Junior Featherweight Championship
WBO International Bantamweight Championship: Ryo Akaho def. Prosper Ankrah via TKO4 (2:59) to win the WBO International Bantamweight Championship
Featherweight Bout: AJ Banal def. Junior Bajawa via unanimous decision (80-71, 80-71, 80-71)
Lightweight Bout: Joepher Montano def. Tyson Maher via TKO2(1:36)
Bantamweight Bout: Jeson Umbal def. Eric Panza via unanimous decision (76-74, 76-74, 77-73)
Featherweight Bout: Ralph Lulu def. Gerry Patenio via majority decision (38-38, 40-36, 39-37)
