HOUSTON – Nonito Donaire Jr. delivered the knockout he promised to the Filipino people, forcing his Mexican opponent Jorge Arce to announce his retirement at the Toyota Center here Saturday evening (Sunday noon in Manila).
Donaire sent Arce down with a short right to the kisser in the second round, then scored the second knockdown with 26 seconds left in the third. A swift left hook to the jaw finished off Arce in the 2:59 mark of the third round.
Donaire started to celebrate as referee Lawrence Cole attended to the fallen Arce. He knew the Mexican wasn’t getting up and “The Filipino Flash” climbed the ring post, raising his right fist and soaking it in.
The victory was the fourth in as many fights for the 30-year-old Donaire this year, and may have clinched for him the 2012 Fighter of the Year award.
The resounding victory also brought back the smile on the faces of Filipino fight fans.
Last week, Manny Pacquiao suffered a devastating sixth-round (2:59 mark) knockout loss to Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas. After that stinging loss, Filipinos had hoped for vengeance to come from Donaire.
“There were a lot of fans that said, you got to get him, this is for the Philippines,” said Donaire, who retained his WBO super bantamweight crown and stretched his unbeaten run to 30 fights over the last 11 years.
Vengeance came for the Filipinos.
“I don’t know if that’s how they feel. I just did my best out there. I’m hoping they can enjoy (this victory) and be proud. I wish everybody in the Philippines happy holidays,” said Donaire, who can knock out any opponent with a single punch.
The crowd of 7,250 watched as Donaire knocked Arce down in the second round. It was a short right that came as the 33-year-old Mexican lunged at him. Arce didn’t really fall to the floor but had both hands touching the canvas.
Arce fought on as he had always done all his life. But Donaire’s power and speed proved too much for the former four-division world champion. At the start of the third, it looked clear that Donaire was going for the kill.
With 30 seconds left in the round, Arce threw a left hook that missed Donaire who countered with a solid right to the side of Arce’s head. The Mexican staggered and the Filipino chased him with three left uppercuts until he fell by the ropes.
Arce got up dazed and wobbly, his right hand holding on to the ropes and his left wiping the blood off his left eye. By then it was just a matter of time, and when they came close Donaire landed the knockout punch.
Arce lay on the canvas for over a minute as ring physicians checked on him. He slowly got up and went to his corner. By this time, Donaire was busy celebrating around the ring, and was too glad that the fight was over in a flash.
Arce announced his retirement during the post-fight interview with HBO’s Larry Merchant, who was also doing his last fight, finally retiring after 35 years of working boxing’s biggest fights from ringside.
“I have a family to take care of. And I promised my kids that if I lost this fight I will retire,” Arce said.
“I went out there and pretty much timed him. We knew that he was going to open up. He was a tough guy. He actually got me in the body. I caught him with a good straight right hand and that counter hook came in,” Donaire said.
Donaire’s promoter, Bob Arum, gave the boxer a hug inside the ring, and the boxer’s wife, Rachel, had a mild celebration downstairs.
Donaire assured fans of a knockout because he knew Arce would come to fight. The Mexican did and that proved to be his undoing because the more he threw punches at the Filipino the more he opened himself up for the killer blow.
The left hook is Donaire’s signature punch that has brought many of his opponents down and out. It’s more of a left cross because the Filipino champion is a natural southpaw converted into a right-handed fighter.
“It was difficult for me to get him at the beginning. It was hard for me to hit him with that left hook until I got him to open up and made him comfortable to start throwing. That was the key,” said Donaire, who earned $1 million for this fight.
He said his failure to knock out some of his previous opponents is because they refused to engage.
“The reason people survive is because they are afraid to open up. And I have a lot of respect for him (Arce) because he came and did what he needed to do.
“He wasn’t afraid to surprise me so he came out and started throwing. Once he opened up that gave me the left hook,” said Donaire, who was booed by the dominant Latino crowd when he stepped into the ring.
Donaire said Arce will always be his friend, and the other day he said “whatever happens inside the ring stays inside the ring.”
“He will always be a friend of mine,” said Donaire.
“I love Mexico as well. Mexican fighters are tough and I have the best respect for all of them. I’m hoping (the Filipinos) can be proud of what I’ve done tonight,” said the Filipino champion.
Yes, he just made Filipinos proud.