Donaire Bags WBO Crown In Gutsy Win
MANILA, Philippines - Bucking a slight fracture in his left hand, Nonito Donaire, Jr. went beyond the call of duty and pounded out a split 12-round decision over Puerto Rico’s Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. to capture the vacant WBO superbantamweight crown at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, last Saturday night (yesterday morning, Manila).
Donaire, 29, couldn’t recall what round he hurt his hand, speculating it was anywhere between the second and fourth but shrugged off the pain to score the win over Vazquez who was cheered on by a predominantly Hispanic crowd. In an incredible display of guts, Donaire used his injured hand to drop Vazquez in the ninth----a left uppercut stunning the Puerto Rican then a left hook to the jaw sending him to the canvas. Vazquez got up quickly and survived the assault as Donaire, probably feeling the pain in his hand, chose not to pursue his prey.
