Donaire convincingly outboxes Vasquez to win by split decision despite an injured hand

Determined and seething with fire, Filipino fighter Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire, 29, met his boxing adversary the Puerto Rican Wilfredo "Pepito" Vasquez, Jr., 27, with all signs of a winning champ. He unleashed strong well-aimed jobs, upper cuts and straight as well as left and right crosses hitting Vasquez' face, chin and head in the process. Well protected by his gloves, Vasquez would occasionally came out of his shell and delivered equally hard jabs and right straight into Donaire's face.

In one of the rounds, Donaire trapped Vasquez in the ropes. Seeing the opportunity, the Filipino-American boxer pounced on Vasquez for the kill. With all the might he could muster, he delivered strong and tough left and right to Vasquez head and face but he did a remarkable cover. It could be in this round where Donaire injured his left hand. But by sheer guts he managed to claim the WBO super bantamweight title over Wilfredo Vasqez, Jr. despite the injury

At the close of the thrilling bout, the judges scorecards were read. Judges Levi Martinez and Don Trella had the same score 117-110 for Donaire while judge Ruben Garcia tallied a questionable 115-112 for Vasquez. This hard-earned victory marks Donaire’s debut fight in the junior featherweight division.

The encounter amidst fan cheers was getting hot and thrilling as both boxers exchanged hard and sold punches unto each other's face in the middle rounds but Donaire scored a clear headway in the 9^th after flooring Vasquez with an 8 mandatory count.

Donaire aimed at Vasquez head for an early knockout, both exchanging jabs and occasional left and right straight. Donaire seldom aimed for body shots. Something was amiss, the Filipino flash was not in his usual self. It was sheer guts and discipline that forced Donaire to do so because he was badly hurt. He explained his showboating stance to calm off his hand which hurts. Truth came in the last round when the broadcast media mentioned Donaire’s injured a left hand early in the fight. Blood was present on the boxer’s hand when the gloves were removed.

At this point, Vasquez began hitting Donaire with crisp jobs and occasional right straight. He was showing courage as he slowly began to accumulate rounds, including the final round but they were far less convincing than what Donaire had accomplished.

At the close of the fight, Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire was adjudged winner by split decision and his hand raised by Referee Rafael Ramos of Texas. Donaire beamed his signature smile for winning his 4th world title belt before a crowd of 14,120 predominantly Hispanic fans at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas Saturday, February 4, 2012.

Donaire threw 245 power punches and connected 147 with a 60% accuracy. On the other hand Vasquez delivered 163 punches, connected with 56 for 34%, according to The COMPUBOX. The stats that a Compubox records during the fight is truly indicative of who the victor is though it is unofficial

Updated boxing record for now of The Ring No. 4 pound for pound world boxer Donaire is 28-1, 18 KOs; for Vasquez it’s 21-2-1, 18 KOs

Donaire now holds the boxing crowns WBO Super Bantamweight Champion, WBC and WBO Bantamweight, Interim WBA Super Flyweight and IBF Flyweight Champion.

He is married to a Filipino-American USA Nastional Cillegiate and Military Taekwondo Champion Rachel Marcial on the 8th day of August 2008.

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