REALCOMBATMEDIA.COM KO OF THE YEAR: NONITO DONAIRE

By: Boxing Writer Adam Millican

 

Boxing will always be the ‘sweet science’ but nothing creates excitement like a vicious knockout.  The 2011 Knockout of the Year as selected by the RealCombatMedia.com writing staff is Nonito Donaire KO2 Fernando Montiel.  The two faced off in February of 2011 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas in front of a largely pro-Montiel crowd.  Donaire came into the bout boasting an undefeated record and three consecutive stoppage wins.  This was his second fight at 118lbs and Montiel’s WBO and WBC straps were on the line.  For his part Montiel hadn’t lost a bout in five years and was coming off a four stoppage streak.  Both men possess a remarkably high knockout percentage for their weightclasses and were considered to be top lb for lb competitors.  Fans expected fireworks and the fighters didn’t disappoint.

 

Both men spent some time feeling each other out in the first round.  Each landed some decent punches, and Donaire got in some solid body shots.  The speed and footwork of Donaire was apparent from the beginning.  It didn’t take him long for his blazing handspeed to win the bout.  In the second round Montiel landed a short right but Donaire instantly fired back with a lightning fast left hook that landed directly on the side of Montiel’s face.  For good measure Donaire also tagged him with a right hand on the way down.  Montiel crashed to the canvas with his legs twitching as Donaire bounced around in celebration.  To everyone’s shock, Montiel regained his feet and the ref let him to continue.  That proved a mistake as Donaire came in and immediately landed some blows that had Montiel out on his feet.  At that point the ref smartly called a halt to the bout.

With this victory Donaire picked up his first two belts at the 118lb limit and catapulted himself to P4P #3 on many lists behind Mayweather and Pacquiao.   In his next fight Donaire looks to follow in fellow countryman Pacquiao’s footsteps by grabbing belts as he climbs the weight divisions.  In his first bout at super bantamweight next month he’ll face Wilfredo Vazquez where he has the opportunity to pick up the vacant WBO strap.  He also has his first chance to score the Knockout of 2012!

Realcombatmedia.com and it’s writers all voted for Nonito Donaire’s knockout victory over Fernando Montiel as being KO of the Year. Our reader’s at realcombatmedia.com have also voted for Doniare’s KO over Montiel as Ko of the Year in our year end fans poll awards.

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