Nonito Donaire Jr. connects a right to Zsolt Bedal’s and sent the Hungarian crashing to the canvass. (CDN PHOTOS/LITO TECSON)
Donaire retains world title crown with 3rd-round technical knockout win over Hungarian opponent
Five-division world champion Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. put up a spectacular performance to score an easy technical knockout win against Zsolt Bedak of Hungary and retain the WBO Super-bantamweight title late Saturday at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC).
Donaire downed Bedak three times in the first three rounds, the last one forcing referee Russell Mora to stop the fight at the 2:44 mark of the third round.
Donaire Jr. connected two left hooks followed by a hard left straight that sent Bedak to the canvas in the second round. The Hungarian stood back up only to get knocked down again by another hook.
Though Bedak survived the first two knockouts, he was not as lucky the third time after receiving that strong left straight that ended the bout.
“Bedak is a tough guy. He rang my bell a couple of times when he hit me with overhands but my power was a way a lot stronger,” Donaire said.
This served as Donaire’s first title defense after becoming world champion last year by beating Mexican Oscar Juarez in Puerto Rico.
Donaire said after this victory, he is not yet thinking of the next step he is going to take in his career but instead might go back to his hometown in Maribojoc, Bohol to have a short vacation there with his family.
Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr. is carried by his father Nonito Sr. shortly after stopping Zsolt “Mr. Lefthook” Bedak in the third round of their main event showdown of “The Time Has Come” card at the Cebu City Sports Center. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
He did say though that he will be ready for anybody, especially in the 122-pound division, where he plans to stay for a long time.
“I have no plans of who I’m gonna fight next but I am ready to fight the big names in this division and I’m planning to stay here for a long time and fight the best out there,” he said.
Meanwhile, Donaire credited his victory to the ever-supportive crowd that trooped to the CCSC on Saturday, numbering around 20,000.
“You gotta love the crowd,” he said. “They are amazing. I’d love to fight here again.”
Donaire improved his record to 37 wins with 24 knockouts and three defeats while Bedak suffered his second loss in 27 bouts. He has eight wins by knockouts.
In the co-main event, Australian Paul “Showtime” Fleming remained unbeaten in 22 games (14 knockouts) and snatched the vacant WBC Continental Americas Super-featherweight title by defeating Miguel Angel “Ranita” Gonzales of Mexico by unanimous decision.
ALA Boxing Gym’s Boholano prospect Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo (14-0, 11KOs) bucked a third-round knockdown en route to an epic showdown and defeated the experienced American Chris “Hitman” Avalos (26-5, 19KOs) to clinch the WBO International featherweight title by a sixth round TKO. (See separate story.)
Magsayo’s stablemate, No. 1 Lightweight of WBO, Jason “El Niño” Pagara (38-2, 23KOs) defeated Mexican Miguel “Mikol” Zamudio (35-9-1, 21KOs) by unanimous decision after 10 rounds.
Jason “El Niño” Pagara (left) rocks Mexican Miguel “Mikol” Zamudio with a right. Pagara won the fight via unanimous decision. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
Another ALA boxing gym pug Jeo Santisima (19-2, 9KOs) defeated Thai Tabthong Tor Buamas (14-4, 12KOs) by a first-round TKO.
Rocky Fuentes defeated Romnick Magos by majority decision after eight rounds while Virgel Vitor won against Paulo Perono by a third-round TKO. Christian Bacolod won over Marlou Sandoval by a first-round knockout and Lorenz Ladrada beat Renjie Sabanal by decision.
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