(Photo from Donaire’s official Facebook page)
MANILA – Nonito ‘The Filipino Flash’ Donaire Jr. retained his World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight title via a three-round stoppage of Zsolt Bedak of Hungary Saturday night at the Cebu City Sports Center.
Donaire dropped Bedak with a left uppercut and a counter left hook to the back of the ear that sent the former Olympian to the canvass.
In the third round, Donaire put pressure on Bedak who was still wobbly from the two knockdowns, knocking down again his opponent that forced the referee stop the fight at 2:44.
It was Donaire’s 37th win in 40 fights with 23 via knockouts while Bedak suffered his second loss in 27 assignments highlighted with only eight knockouts.
Donare’s victory came two weeks after fellow Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao pulled out a unanimous decision victory against American Timothy Bradley in their third match in Las Vegas.
The fight was Donaire’s first since winning his WBO crown against Mexican Cesar Juarez in Puerto Rico last December.
Donaire is reportedly eyeing rematch against Guillermor Rigondeaux who defeated him on April 13, 2013.
In other matches, undefeated Filipino prospect Mark Magsayo recovered from third round knockdown to stop Chris Avalos in the sixth round to win the WBO International featherweight title.
Magsayo remains undefeated in 14 fights while Avalos dropped at 26-5 with 19 knockouts.
Meanwhile, Australian Paul Fleming (22-0, 14 KOs) won the World Boxing Council (WBC) super featherweight title via unanimous decision against Mexican Miguel Angel Gonzalez (22-8-1, 12 KOs) in the co-main event.