NONITO DONAIRE VS. JEFFREY MATHEBULA FIGHT RESULT – DONAIRE WINS UNIFICATION FIGHT

Philippines’ Nonito Donaire beats South Africa’s Jeffrey Mathebula Saturday night, July 7, 2012 (Sunday morning in Manila) via 12-round unanimous decision in a super bantamweight world title unification bout at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

“The Filipino Flash” won with scores of 117-110, 118-109 and 119-108 to unify his WBO super bantamweight belt and Mathebula’s IBF belt.

Mathebula, who used his height and longer reach to jab most of the time, was knocked down from a crushing left hook by Donaire towards the end of the fourth round. However, Mathebula managed to beat the count and was saved by the bell.

Donaire’s much taller foe spent most of the final rounds covering up. By the 11th round, Mathebula was clearly hurt by Donaire’s hard right hand. Mathebula’s camp later said that he cracked a tooth during the 11th round.

Donaire improved his record to 29-1 with 18 knockouts, winning his 28th straight fight. He hasn’t lost since Rosendo Sanchez beat him via unanimous decision in March 10, 2001.