Filipino champion boxer Nonito Donaire reclaimed his World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantam weight title with a unanimous decision over Cesar Juarez of Mexico.
In a Puerto Rico match that is described by ESPN as a Fight of the Year contender, Donaire referred to his boxing match as, “the toughest fight I’ve ever been in my life. It was an amazing fight.”
The Filipino Flash controlled the first 6 rounds of the fight and twice knocked down his opponent. However, a tough Juarez kept his aggressive stance and kept exchanging blows with the Filipino boxer.
In post-fight interviews Donaire admitted to injuries which slowed him down during the latter part of the match.
The Filipino boxer suffered an eye cut and swelling. He was also weakened in the final rounds by a bad spill that twisted his leg. “I couldn’t throw a punch from the leg, I was only throwing shoulder punches,” Donaire told media.
He was able to maintain his lead by landing punches against a furious opponent.
The ring action was applauded by the audience which gave both fighters a standing ovation at the end of the match.
The 5-weight division title winner won back the belt after losing it in 2013 to Cuba’s Guillermo Rigondeaux who afterwards lost the title due to inactivity, giving way to the Donaire-Juarez match for the vacant title.
He said he wants a rematch with Rigondeaux. The win improved Donaire’s record to 36-3 with 23 knockouts.
