By Vittorio Tafur, San Francisco Chronicle
Reigning WBC and WBO Bantamweight champ Fernando Montiel was immediately bothered in Saturday's first round by Nonito Donaire's speed. He had no idea what was coming next.
In what was a star-making turn, San Leandro's Donaire hit Montiel so hard with a left hook that Montiel's legs were twitching as he lay on the ground in the second round. Montiel tried to get up from the baseball-bat like shot, but fell back down. Once he was up, Donaire finished him off with two more punches for the knockout at 2:25 of the round at Mandalay Bay Casino.
"That was the hardest punch of my career," said Donaire, now 26-1 with 18 knockouts. "I was so surprised that he got up, because I put everything I had into that punch."
The "Filipino Flash" won the first round by quickly moving in and out and landing body shots. The second round was much slower - Donaire said he was measuring up Montiel (44-3-2).
"If I closed my eyes, I knew where he was going to be when I threw that punch," said Donaire, who has now won 25 straight fights.
Donaire is from the same city (General Santos, Philippines) as boxing king Manny Pacquiao, and they might want to start bottling the water there. This is Donaire's second title at a different weight class and it's just a matter of time before he moves up from 118 pounds.
Like Donaire, Pacquiao won his first title at flyweight. He has now won titles in a record eight weight classes, and promoter Bob Arum sees Donaire, 28, taking a similar path.
"You saw a superstar performance tonight," Arum said. "This kid Donaire is a star, no question about it. His speed and punching power are incredible. Plus, he's intelligent, personable and good-looking. He is the total package."
Montiel, one of the five Mexican fighters to win world titles in three weight divisions, was taken to a hospital for precautionary tests.
Donaire thanked trainer Robert Garcia and nutritionist Victor Conte and said he will only get better as he stops starving himself to make weight.
"As I go up to 122 and 126, you will see a more and more ferocious Nonito Donaire," he said.
Pacquiao flew in for the fight, and was just getting in the doors when Donaire reached back with the big hook.
"I wish somebody would have told me," Donaire said. "I would have slowed down. ... No, seriously, I am just honored that he came. He will always be No. 1. I don't mind being No. 2."
E-mail Vittorio Tafur at vtafur@sfchronicle.com.
Source: sfgate.com
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