TURNING back the clock, Nonito Donaire stopped erstwhile unbeaten Nordine Oubaali of France in the fourth round yesterday (Saturday in the United States) to wrest the World Boxing Council bantamweight crown at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson City, California.
After knocking down Oubaali twice in the third round, Donaire went for the kill in the fourth, tagging the Frenchman with left-right combinations before ending the fight with a crushing left hook that had his foe crumpling on the ropes with a minute and 43 seconds left in the fourth.
“Three decades of being world champion, nine-time world champion, that’s amazing,” Donaire said during the post-match press conference, reflecting on what he had accomplished with the terrific triumph after waiting for more than a year to get back into the ring due to the pandemic.
“This was something I had to prove to the world: that I am back and stronger than ever,” added the veteran ring warrior who is back among the elite list of world champions.
With the rousing win — his 41st against six losses while claiming his 27th knockout victim — the Filipino “Flash” proved he is still a force to reckon while emerging as the oldest world bantamweight champion at 38.
He surpassed the feat of another great Filipino fighter, Gerry Penalosa, who became the World Boxing Organization bantamweight titlist at 35 when he knocked out Mexican Jhonny Gonzales in the seventh round on Aug. 11, 2007 at the Arco Arena in Sacramento, California.
A 2-1 favorite to retain his crown, Oubaali, 34, absorbed his initial loss in 18 fights against an opponent who also knocked him down for the first time in his career.
On top of Donaire’s list is a rematch with Japanese Naoya Inoue, who holds both the World Boxing Association super bantamweight and International Boxing Federation bantamweight belts.
The first time they met on Nov. 7, 2019 at the Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, Inoue defeated Donaire via unanimous decision, but suffered a fractured orbital bone at the hands of his power-punching opponent.
“That’s why I came to this fight, to really make that happen,” Donaire said of his desire for a return bout with the Japanese “Monster,” leaving longtime promoter Richard Schaefer to make the fight materialize.
Schaefer praised the Filipino’s showing and pointed out that “he (Donaire) technically is one of the best fighters of our generation. He is smart in the ring and can punch as well.”
Aiming to strike while the iron is hot, Donaire added that also on his priority list is becoming the undisputed world champion in the bantamweight division, even if he has to face a compatriot, John Riel Casimero, the reigning WBO bantamweight king, to do it.
“I’m here to fight anybody and get the undisputed championship. The order doesn’t matter.
I’m coming after them,” he said.
Donaire bided his time in the first round, stalking Oubaali while measuring him up, in contrast to the southpaw Frenchman’s aggressive stance, tagging his foe with his right jab repeatedly.
After much of the same in the second round, Donaire found an opening and connected with a couple of left hooks and right straights that sent down his rival twice, the last just as the bell sounded.
Referee Jack Reiss gave Oubaali a standing eight-count to determine if the erstwhile champ could go on after the second knockdown, eventually allowing him to proceed, although the Frenchman found it hard to return to his corner.
“I knew that Oubaali was very hurt (after the knockdowns). I felt it in my hands,” said Donaire, taking a lesson from his experience with Inoue. “Something I learned in the Inoue fight was when to go in for the kill. I was patient but I knew I could take him out.”
