IBF flyweight champion Nonito Donaire Jr. turned southpaw in a tactical adjustment and the switch created the opening he used to land the jarring left straight that cut South African challenger Moruti Mthalane’s inside left eyelid, prompting referee Joe Cortez to stop the fight at 1:31 of the sixth round at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas last Saturday night (yesterday morning, Manila).
Donaire led in the scorecards of the three judges – Adelaide Byrd, Robert Hoyle and Michael Pernick – when Cortez called it a night after the ringside physician examined Mthalane’s cut.
“I knew they’d stop it after I landed because I saw the blood gushing out of the cut, flowing directly into his eye,” said Donaire. “I didn’t want to punish him any more.”
Mthalane fought as advertised, coming forward with a tight peek-a-boo defense reminiscent of former heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson’s style. Although he won only one clear round, the South African gave Donaire a lot to think about.
“He was tough just as I expected,” said Donaire who hadn’t fought in nearly a year. “I was a little rusty but didn’t get tired. I went to the body early then in the second round, I hurt the pinkie in my left hand. I wasn’t comfortable with the left glove which was a bit loose. For some reason, I was hitting him with my fingers, not my knuckles, and that’s why I hurt my pinkie.”
In the third round, Mthalane picked up the pace as Donaire’s work rate slackened to rest his left hand. In the fourth, Donaire switched to southpaw and began using his right to jab Mthalane. The crowd booed the fighters in the fifth as the fighters wouldn’t engage – Mthalane couldn’t put two punches together because Donaire repeatedly kept him off balance with jabs to the head and hooks to the body.
“I felt I was breaking him down slowly,” said Donaire. “I couldn’t keep banging away at his body because my left was hurting. He was covering up well, too. Give him credit for his defense. When the sixth round got going, I thought it was just a matter of time. I was pushing him off and landing more. That was when I hit him with a left straight from a southpaw position and I immediately saw the blood gushing out from his cut.”
Donaire said he congratulated Mthalane for a gallant stand after the fight. Mthalane broke out in tears as his bid to wrest the crown was thwarted.
“I told him he earned my respect, that he would someday become a world champion if he continues to work hard, that he made me work hard to win,” said Donaire. “I’m a bit disappointed with my movement but I’m happy to get the win after a long layoff. I’m looking forward to spending the holidays with family in the Philippines.”
Donaire plans to celebrate Christmas and New Year’s Day in Alabang with wife Rachel, her sister Nicole and in-laws Gerry and Becky Marcial.
Donaire said he will get an X-Ray to determine if his pinkie is fractured. “I don’t know if it’s broken but it really hurts,” he continued. “I had an injury in my left hand some years ago but it wasn’t near the pinkie and it’s healed. My manager (Cameron Dunkin) and promoter (Bob Arum) told me to rest it and get ready for my next fight early next year.”
Two marquee matchups loom for Donaire. One is against Mexican warrior Jorge Arce who demolished Isidro Garcia in the fourth round in the undercard. The other is a rematch against Australian roughhouser Vic Darchinyan who became the undisputed WBC, WBA and IBF superflyweight champion by knocking out Cristian Mijares in Carson City the same night.
Donaire said he trained two months for Mthalane but logged only about 40 rounds of sparring with Fil-Am Adam Fiel and Angel Magdaleno.
“I would’ve liked to do more sparring,” he said. “We had difficulty getting guys to come in. We invited fighters like Gabriel Elizondo. They stayed away because of my reputation of knocking guys out in the gym. So I concentrated on mitts and roadwork to get in shape. Next time, we’ll work on getting big sparmates so I won’t need to hold back.”
Donaire dedicated his victory to Filipinos all over the world.
“The heart of the Filipino warrior is inside me,” he said. “Like Manny (Pacquiao), I give every fight my all because I’m fighting for the Filipino people.”
It was Donaire’s second defense of the title he won via a fifth round knockout over Darchinyan last year. His record is now 20-1, with 13 KOs. Mthalane earned the title shot by outpointing Australian contender Hussein Hussein last July. His record dropped to 22-2, with 15 KOs.