Donaire defies odds, stops foe to win crown

MANILA, Philippines — Nonito Donaire Jr. went against the odds to score what appeared to be a freakish stoppage of defending WBA bantamweight champion Ryan Burnett who was ruled unfit to continue by his trainer Adam Booth after the bell sounded to start the fifth round at the SSE Hydro Arena in Glasgow yesterday morning (Manila time).

A 6-1 underdog, Donaire dropped down from featherweight to bantamweight and brought his power back to the 118-pound division which he dominated seven years ago. Burnett, who is nine years younger, engaged Donaire from the onset and landed at least two clean right straights, one in the second round and another in the third, that caught the Filipino Flash’s attention. But Donaire shrugged off the blows, never showing signs that he was bothered by Burnett’s power.

Late in the third round, Donaire trapped Burnett along the ropes and unloaded a barrage of blows, including a vicious left to the side of the body. When the fourth stanza began, Burnett didn’t look the same. The aggressiveness that the Irishman showed in the earlier rounds was gone as he moved away from Donaire, shifting side to side. That body shot he took in the previous round could’ve inflicted serious damage to his rib cage.

Suddenly, Burnett fell to a knee after missing with a long right straight. It seemed like Burnett twisted his hip when he threw the right hand. He grimaced in pain, getting up at the count of seven. English referee Howard Foster signaled the action to resume and Donaire immediately went in for the kill, connecting with heavy shots to the head. Burnett was saved by the bell.

Sitting on his stool, Burnett whispered something to Booth before the fifth round began. Foster checked with Burnett’s corner, consulted Booth then waved it off. Donaire went over to Burnett in a gesture of sportsmanship. “I told Ryan he’s a great fighter, not to take it as a loss,” said Donaire. Burnett was carried out of the ring on a stretcher.

Two of the three judges saw Burnett ahead after four rounds. Stefano Carroza of Italy and Ian John Lewis of the UK scored it both 38-37 for Burnett. Panamanian judge Alexs Marin had Donaire on top, 38-37. Marin’s running total, however, showed a mathematical mistake. His calculation for Burnett showed a tally of 39 but when you add up his round-by-round totals, it would only be 37. All three judges gave the fourth round to Donaire, 10-8. Lewis was a late replacement for Scottish judge Victor Loughlin.

Donaire said he was surprised when Burnett sank to a knee. “I didn’t know what was going on,” he said. “When he got up, I went straight in, I wasn’t going to stop. It’s possible he got hurt with a body shot in the previous round. Starting the fourth, I fought differently. He couldn’t catch me. My coach (Kenny Adams) told me to box, jab, go to the body, feint, to take my time. I made the adjustments and it worked.”

Donaire said his power was a big edge. “You can’t fabricate power,” he said. “That was my advantage. I felt his power and I could take it. He hit me with some hard shots but they weren’t strong enough to rock me. I felt really strong. I was happy with my speed. I don’t think he was quicker.”

Burnett, the No. 1 seed in the World Boxing Super Series to determine the unified world bantamweight champion, chose Donaire as his opponent, probably thinking the Filipino Flash wouldn’t be as dangerous at 35 and coming off a loss to Carl Frampton in Belfast last April. Burnett should’ve been advised to be careful what to wish for. It was Burnett’s first loss as his record dipped to 19-1, with 9 KOs. Donaire raised his slate to 39-5, with 25 KOs.

The first round was close with both fighters getting in their licks. Burnett took the initiative and went on attack mode early. Donaire didn’t mind Burnett closing the gap as he unleashed short, chopping punches on an easy target. But it caused Donaire to stray from his fight plan of boxing instead of slugging. Judges Carroza and Lewis gave the first round to Burnett while judge Marin saw it for Donaire.

Burnett caught Donaire with a right straight to start the second canto. Donaire stalked and countered the aggressive Burnett who showed a tendency to lower his left hand before coming forward. In the third, Donaire and Burnett traded big bombs and at the end of the round, the Irishman took a lot of punishment with his back on the ropes. Donaire boxed skillfully in the fourth as Burnett’s workrate took a dip. Then, Burnett crumpled to a knee, clutching the right side of his body. When he got up, Burnett was chased down to the ropes and Donaire teed off with blistering shots. Burnett’s corner surrendered at the sound of the bell to open the fifth.

For Donaire, it was sweet vindication as not a few boxing experts had ruled him out of title contention after losing to Frampton and scoffed when he announced dropping down two weight classes. But Donaire made his harshest critics eat their words. With Adams in his corner, Donaire looked sharp in taking the crown away from Burnett in a fight that he wasn’t tipped to win.