Palace hails Donaire for 'clear' unification bout triumph

Malacañang on Sunday congratulated Filipino boxing champ Nonito Donaire for clearly winning his super bantamweight unification bout against Jeffrey Mathebula in California.

 

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte also said that there was no question about the outcome this time as the judges’ decision was unmistakable.

 

“Congratulations kay Nonito Donaire si Filipino Flash. Now he holds both belts,” Valte said on government-run dzRB radio.

 

Valte also said that unlike last month’s controversial bout that saw Filipino boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao lose to Timothy Bradley Jr., all the judges saw a clear Donaire win.

 

“Mukhang malinaw ang kanilang mata all in favor of Donaire,” she said.

 

Fightnews.com reported Donaire, the World Boxing Organization champ, defeated Mathebula to win the South African fighter's International Boxing Federation belt.

 

It said Donaire's left hook dropped Mathebula hard at the end of Round 4, although Mathebula came back and stayed in the fight.

 

It was also reported that Donaire may have broken Mathebula’s jaw in the eleventh round 

 

All three judges scored the fight for the "Filipino Flash": 117-110, 118-109, 119-108. — DVM, GMA News