WBO super bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire defeated the IBF super
bantamweight champion Jeffrey Mathebula in a unification match at the
Home Depot Center in Carson, California on July 7, 2012.
The “Filipino Flash” won over the much taller African fighter via a
unanimous decision. The judges saw it 117-110, 118-109, 119-108 all for
Donaire.
With the win, Donaire has improved his boxing record to 29 wins and 1
loss with 18 KO’s in 30 fights. Mathebula, on the other hand, slid down
to 26 wins, 4 losses and 2 draws with 14 KO’s in 32 fights.
It is exciting to know whether or not this victory will help Donaire
attain a better P4P ranking. He is currently rated by The Ring as the
number 4 pound-for-pound boxer in the world.
Donaire is heavily favored to win over Mathebula in the HBO main event, but the underdog cannot be underestimated as he has a height advantage over the “Filipino Flash.”
Meanwhile, ex-middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik (40-2, 34 KO) will face New York fighter Will Rosinsky (16-2, 9 KO) in a co-featured match.
Results of both fights, the Donaire vs Mathebula and Pavlik versus Rosinsky will be posted here.
Pavlik defeated Rosinsky via a unanimous decision 97-92, 98-91, 98-91.
In a post-fight interview, Pavlik said he would like to fight some top fighters in the super middleweight division. Reports said he is targeting Andre Ward, Mikkel Kessler, Lucian Bute and Carl Froch.
Here we go with Donaire vs Mathebula.
The Filipino champ looked very focused and delivered solid punches. The African champ went down in the fourth round with a powerful left from Donaire.
Donaire seems obsessed with a knockout. He’s aiming for the kill but it’s not just coming. He’s not doing much in the last few rounds.
Donaire got back at Mathebula in the 11th round, landing shots in the latter’s face and jaw.
