Donaire KOs Montiel

Bantamweight Nonito Donaire confirmed his growing reputation as one of the sport’s pound-for-pound kings with a devastating counter-left hook in the second round that left Fernando Montiel writhing on the canvas in agony Saturday night at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

Donaire secured the WBO and WBC belts along with the admiration of any fight fan with an appreciation for mastery amidst the lower weight classes. The “Filipino Flash” need only subdue the winner of the April 23 Abner Mares-Joseph Agbeko tilt before proclaiming himself the undisputed champ at 118 lbs.

After that, who knows? Donaire has power to spare and could easily contend at 122 or even featherweight. Having now captured titles in three divisions his rise through the weight classes is starting to resemble another Filipino phenomenon, Manny Pacquiao. The only off note of the night was the ref’s decision not to end the fight after the initial knockdown.

On the undercard welterweight prospect Mike “Machine Gun” Jones improved considerably in his second go-round against Jesus Soto-Karass. Soto-Karass was ill-served, however, by the referee missing a clash of heads that opened an ugly cut on his left eye.