| 07 July 2012
One fight down, one to go on HBO's Boxing After Dark. Bob Papa, Max Kellerman and Roy Jones Jr. are on hand at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California getting ready for a 122-pound showdown between the Filipino Flash, Nonito Donaire, and Jeffrey Mathebula.
The tale of the tape shows that Mathebula has more than four inches of height on Donaire but not as much of an edge in reach. The South African is 33, while Nonito is 29. Both men rehydrated to around the same weight on HBO's unofficial scale.
Kellerman calls Mathebula the tallest guy he's ever seen in this division as he makes his ring walk. His pro record stands at 26-3-2 with 14 KOs.
Donaire comes out second, sporting a 28-1 record with 18 stoppages. His last two victories have come by decision following a long streak of KO wins.
Lupe Contreras handles the official fighter introductions. Pat Russell is the referee in charge of the action. The formalities are out of the way, and we're properly prepared for a scheduled 12 rounds of action for the WBO and IBF 122-pound titles.
Round 1
Donaire swings for the fences with his first punch. Mathebula tries to get his range, but he flails wildly while doing so. Donaire hooks to the body with a left. Mathebula throws four or five straight jabs, and Donaire just mises with a left. Mathebula stumbles more and may have been caght by something. Donaire lands some more shots upstairs, but he also gets caught by a couple of counter shots. They exchange awkwardly as the round closes out.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Donaire
Round 2
Both guys seem a little more cautious, but Donaire ends it with a right hand. Mathebula gets grabbed by the head for a second. Donaire shrugs off a combo to land a right. Mathebula has to be wary of some nasty hooks, and a nice exchange breaks out. Mathebula goes back to his jab. Donaire is really looking to load up some hooks. Mathebula lets his hands go in combination.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Donaire
Round 3
Harold Lederman gave that round to Mathebula. It was close. Donaire is trying to stay outside of Mathebula's reach, which isn't easy. The crowd is ooh-ing every time Nonito lands. They almost start trading along the ropes, but Mathebula manuevers his way out. Tons of dancing as Donaire tries to work his way in. Mathebula has been busier, probably enough to take this round. Not a pretty one by any means.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Mathebula
Round 4
Now it's a pose-off as both men play to the crowd. Donaire is leaping in to land his stuff, not that he has tons of choice. Mathebula fires off a flurry of shots upstairs. He tries hooks with both hands as the crowd tries to psyche up Donaire. Right hand by Nonito as he comes forward. He measures a right and left, then backs Mathebula into the corner. Mathebula misses about seven straight before taking one back. With five seconds left, Donaire lands a left hand right on the chin, and Mathebula is down for the first tiem in his career. He beats the count, but he looks mighty dazed.
Tylwalk: 10-8 Donaire
Round 5
Mathebula tries to show he's unhurt by firing his quick, light punches. But can he last in the face of Donaire's crazy power shots? He narrowly misses some bombs, but Mathebula lands a solid right. Donaire goes to the body, then to the head in the corner. Anothe left hand stuns Mathebula for a moment. Donaire clowns for a second and almost lands after the bell.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Donaire
Round 6
Donaire sticks in a right hand. They jockey for position, and Mathebula lands some combination shots. Donaire walks through two jabs, looking for home runs with his left. Jab and a right hand by Nonito. Mathebula looks off balance as he goes back. Both men land right hands pretty flush. Nice left hand by Mathebula as he mimics his opponetnt's style, but Donaire is back on the offensive in the closing seconds.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Donaire
Round 7
Lederman favored Mathebula in the previous round. This one starts quietly. Donaire hops around and jabs. He tries pecking with the jab to set up a right. he goes to the body, then snaps a left to the face. Mathebula isn't throwing much but jabs at the moment. He reaches from range but is too far away. Left-right from Donaire are partially blocked. Donaire lands lefts to the head and body.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Donaire
Round 8
CompuBox had Round 7 as Mathebula's least active round so far. Both guys jab, with Mathebula landing more. Donaire doubles his, and he forces Mathebula into an extedned turtle position. Donaire turns counter-puncher briefly. They trade for a moment along the ropes before Mathebula backs away again. The crowd boos as things fall back into a lull. Tough round to score as neither guy did major damage.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Mathebula
Round 9
Mathebula's corner tells him to jab and drop the right. Not sure that would be the best way to go about this, but I'm not a trainer. Donaire is showing some redness, and Mathebula tries to step up his activity level. He swings wildly to keep Donaire off of him. Nonito hunts for single shots while dodging the volume coming back. Donaire hops in for left hooks. Two rights and a left hand come in for Donaire in the closing seconds.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Donaire
Round 10
Donaire steps it up a bit, with Mathebula punching while he backs up. They battle in the middle with Mathebula staying busier, and they get tangled up for a second. Donaire slips more punches but gets hit with a right. Again not much of big consequence, but Mathebula worked more consistently.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Mathebula
Round 11
Was that last round 30 second short? HBO thinks it was. Donaire weathers more early jabs and lands right hand off the jab. Garcia asked for more of that. Nonito goes to the body, then lands a right to the head. Jabs set up a strong right hand that knocks Mathebula back. It looks like Mathebula may be hurt, because he hasn't thrown much for the last 30 seconds. He's in pure survival mode. CompuBox says Mathebula has landed zero power shots in this frame.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Donaire
Round 12
Stiff left from Donaire, though Mathebula is back to at least punching again. Right-left combo chases Mathebula back for the umpteenth time. Jeffrey lands a right hand, then opens up with both gloves. Donaire just misses two shots along the ropes. Two lefts sneak through for Mathebula. Donaire snaps his foe's head back with a left hand. Nonito scores a couple more punches along the ropes and chases Mathebula until the final bell.
Tylwalk: 10-9 Donaire
Tylwalk: 117-110 Donaire
The judges score it 117-110, 118-109 and 119-108, all to the winner by unanimous decision... and now the WBO and IBF super bantamweight titleholder... "The Filipino Flash" Nonito Donaire.
