“That was the hardest punch of my career. I was so surprised that he got up, because I put everything I had into that punch.”
That’s boxer Nonito Donaire, as reported in the Chronicle, and he speaks the truth. Donaire was talking about his knockdown of WBC and WBO Bantamweight champ Fernando Montiel in Las Vegas Saturday, resulting in a TKO for the 122-pound boxer known as the “Filipino Flash.” Donaire was born in the Philippines but grew up in San Leandro. He trains at San Bruno’s Undisputed Boxing Gym.
The knockdown occurs at 2:00 of the video. To watch the punch and devastating counter-punch in slow motion, fast forward to 4:08. And here are some close-up photos from Boxing Scene and HBO of the punch and its aftermath. But I have to warn you, the whole thing is a little gruesome. abs-cbnNEWS of the Philippines reports Montiel has a “hairline fracture and deep dent in the cheekbone,” and will have to undergo reconstructive surgery.
Here’s a Feb 3 report from KGO’s Larry Beil, in which he interviews and spars with the Flash.
Related:
- Video: HBO Sports feature on Donaire vs. Montiel
- Round-by-round fight updates (Boxing Fanhouse)
- Nonito Donaire Official web site
- Donaire Facebook page
- Manny Pacquiao’s Vallejo Appearance (Nov, 2010, News Fix)