By NICK GIONGCO
HOUSTON — Nonito Donaire flattened Mexican Jorge Arce in the third round with a vicious left hook on Saturday night here (Sunday morning in Manila), retaining his World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-bantamweight crown and more importantly putting a smile back on the faces of Filipinos after the unspeakable horror that took place exactly a week ago in Las Vegas.
Eerily, the end came at 2:59 of the third canto almost on the very same area of the ring at the MGM Grand where Juan Manuel Marquez scored the biggest victory of his legendary career – using just one punch -- against Manny Pacquiao with one second left before the end of the sixth stanza.
Donaire, who was born in the Philippines but grew up in San Francisco, had missed a lot with that punch in the first two rounds but knew that it was just a matter of time before it would find its target.
Moments before referee Laurence Cole pulled a halt to the fight, Donaire had decked Arce with a left after sending him spinning with a right. Sensing blood, the 30-year-old Filipino-American pounced on his troubled foe and then unleashed the coup de grace.
Arce, 33, fell hard and Cole didn’t even bother to count, sending Donaire and his team in a frenzy and the pro-Arce crowd of more than 7,000 at the Toyota Center in utter shock.
Donaire improved to 31-1 with his 20th knockout. Arce dropped to 61-7-2.
“My left hook was a damaging hook tonight,” Donaire said. “I felt very strong in the ring.”
“The reason why people survive is because they are afraid to open up,” Donaire said. “I have a lot of respect for (Arce) because he came in there and he opened up. He wasn’t afraid. He was aiming to surprise me. But when he was opening up, that gave me the left hook and when I can throw sitting down on that left hook, everybody will go down.”
The 30-year-old Donaire hasn’t lost a fight in more than 11 years. Donaire had weighed in at 121 ½ lbs but was 129 lbs when he answered the bell.
Following the defeat, Arce, who was 122 lbs during the weigh in but was 135 lbs on fight night, announced his retirement after a colorful career, fulfilling his promise to his kids that he would hang up his gloves if Donaire beat him.
“I am going home to watch television,” said the surprisingly jolly Arce, who had nothing but praise for his esteemed conqueror.
“There’s no shame in losing to somebody like Donaire.”
Donaire had actually put Arce down in the second round with a short right to the kisser but Arce immediately got to his feet to show that he was not hurt.
But Donaire’s superior skills and incredible power proved to be too much for the game and gutsy Arce to overcome.
Former world champion Robert Garcia, the trainer of Donaire was overjoyed with his fighter’s show of force.
“Nonito’s power was unreal, spectacular, perfect. Wherever he hits you, it could be shoulder, head, neck, it doesn’t matter. It’s going to hurt real bad. His power was spectacular.”
The year 2012 has truly been a showcase for Donaire, who had also beaten Wilfredo Vazquez of Puerto Rico, Jeffrey Mathebula of South Africa and Toshiaki Nishioka of Japan before capping the year with another head-turner.
“I hope we can be proud of what I did tonight,” said Donaire when asked how it felt to pull off a win against a Mexican in the light of Pacquiao’s downfall to another Mexican.
Donaire now looms as the huge favorite to win Fighter of the Year honors with Marquez as his chief rival for the coveted award being handed out by various publications, sanctioning bodies and boxing bodies.
Donaire earned his biggest purse in his destruction of Arce with Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum assuring him of $1 million.
With the win, Arum will have no choice but to up the ante the next time Donaire enters the ring, possibly against Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux in March 2013.
Immediately after the fight, Malacañang congratulated Donaire for a morale-boosting victory against his Mexican opponent.
Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte said they hope Donaire’s victory would uplift the spirit of Filipino sports fans still reeling from the recent losses of Pacquiao and the Philippine Azkals football team.
Vice President Jejomar C. Binay also congratulated Donaire for what he called an impressive victory over a Mexican warrior.
“Nonito once again displayed admirable skill, discipline, strength and courage,” said Binay in a statement.
Lawmakers likewise congratulated Donaire for finishing off his rival with a devastating left hook one second before the bell that would have ended the third round of their match yesterday.
“That huge ring victory will wash away the heartaches brought unto us by Manny Pacquiao’s devastating loss in Las Vegas,” said Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy of Bagong Henerasyon partylist.
Rep. Amado Bagatsing (LP, Manila) said he has drafted a House resolution commending Donaire for “lifting the Filipino spirit” once more.
“Nonito made us proud again,” he said.
On the other hand, Reps. Alfredo Benitez (LP, Negros Occidental); Juan Edgardo Angara (LDP, Aurora); JV Ejercito-Estrada (PMP, San Juan City), and Mark Sambar (PBA Partylist) sent out separate press statements lauding the Donaire win.
Last week, these House members aired strong hopes that gloom over the surprise loss of Filipino boxing icon an Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao to Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez will be short lived.
“The next Pacman,” Benitez said of Donaire.
Sambar and Ejercito-Estrada described Donaire’s victory as a Christmas gift to Filipinos.
“Nonito has given an early Christmas present to Filipinos all around the world. His win gives also a silver lining to an otherwise tough few weeks for Filipinos,” stated Sambar.
According to Angara the win is a reminder for all that the Philippines has two of the best boxers in the world.
“Sky is the limit for Donaire,” said Angara. (With reports from AP, Genalyn D. Kabiling, Ben Rosario, and Anna Liza Villas-Alavaren)
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