Donaire lauds Frampton, plans to move down in weight

MANILA – Former world champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire was the picture of class following his unanimous decision loss to Carl Frampton in their featherweight showdown in Belfast on Saturday (early Sunday in Manila).

Frampton put on a show in his hometown, and won with scores of 117-111 across the board. In the process, he earned the interim WBO featherweight championship.


Donaire had no complaints about the scores and immediately hugged Frampton when the decision was announced. Backstage, he was again shown congratulating the younger fighter and saying "I'm cheering for you."

Frampton earned a shot at the WBO's regular belt, as well as the IBO featherweight belt, with his triumph.

"First of all, always want to thank God for keeping me safe in that ring. Not taking anything away from Frampton. He is an amazing fighter, smart and a tough mf," Donaire said on social media after his bout.

"Congratulations… may you continue to be on top," he added.

Donaire, who sustained his fifth career loss, also said that he intends to move back down in weight after a difficult campaign as a featherweight.

"My team, family, and Ringstar will have a meeting but I think it has already been predecided that although I have done my best to gain weight and keep my weight on and strong, it's best I move back down in weight," he said.

Donaire's biggest success came when he was a super bantamweight. As a featherweight, he has compiled a 2-2 win-loss record; one of those defeats was a stunning knockout at the hands of Nicholas Walters.

Still, Frampton was wary of Donaire's power and commended the Filipino star for his effort following their bout.

"Nonito Donaire was dangerous from start to finish. I stuck to the game plan and at times my boxing was beautiful," said Frampton, who was rocked by Donaire during the 11th round of the bout but stayed strong.

Donaire's record dropped to 38-5 with the result.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Donaire, Carl Frampton make weight for world interim title bout

Nonito Donaire Jr. and Carl Frampton both made weight for their World Boxing Organization featherweight interim world title fight at the SSE Arena in Belftast, Northern Ireland. 

Donaire tipped the scales at 125.5 pounds, while Frampton came in at exactly 125 pounds, making their title bout on Saturday (Sunday morning, Manila time) official. 

Donaire, 35, is coming off a unanimous decision win over Ruben Garcia Hernandez, and is looking for another run at the top tier of the featherweight division after most recently holding the WBO super bantamweight championship. 

Frampton, 31, is also looking to get back to the top of the 125-pound rankings after losing his WBO title to Leo Santa Cruz last year. The hometown bet is coming off a unanimous decision win over Horatio Garcia. 

You can catch Donaire-Frampton for the WBO featherweight interim world title on Sunday, April 22, 6:30 p.m. on ABS-CBN S+A channel 23!

You can also catch the fight LIVE on Sunday, April 22, 2:30 a.m. on SKY Sports Pay-Per-View for only P199!

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Frampton wins slugfest over Santa Cruz to claim WBA title

NEW YORK -- Carl Frampton defeated Mexico's Leo Santa Cruz by a majority decision Saturday to claim the WBA featherweight crown and become the first boxer from Northern Ireland to win titles in two divisions.

The challenger Frampton improved to 23-0 with 14 knockouts as he had to overcome a height and weight disadvantage in one of the few times in his career he has moved up to fight at 126 pounds.

"It is a dream come true," said Frampton, who was born in Belfast. "I had a dream of winning a world title and I won it.

"I won it with my heart, not with my head. I got my hand raised."

The 29-year-old Frampton controlled the fight between the two undefeated boxers in the early rounds, landing a punishing left hook in the second round that sent the champ backpedaling across the ring.

He then held on for the win as Santa Cruz gained steam in the middle rounds before the two closed it out by exchanging heavy blows in the middle of the ring as the final bell rang.

One judge scored it even, 114-114, while the other two gave it to Frampton 117-111 and 116-112.

Frampton previously held the IBF and WBA super-bantamweight titles.

Frampton punctuated his impressive early round performance by staggering the champion in the second round with a left hook. His short counter shot slammed into the right side of Santa Cruz's head, sending the Mexican stumbling backwards into the ropes with 45 seconds left in the round.

Frampton then padded his lead by winning the next three rounds before Santa Cruz turned it on in the sixth, which proved to be one of his best rounds of the fight as he landed some solid combination punches.

But Santa Cruz's inability to score enough points in the early going caught up to him as Frampton did not tire in the later rounds.

- 'Get him in rematch' -

"He has a difficult style, but we know his style and will get him in the rematch," Santa Cruz said.

Santa Cruz had considered pulling out of the fight a few months ago because his father and trainer, Jose Santa Cruz, is battling bone cancer.

But dad was at his son's side on Saturday night as the trainer continues to wage the fight of his life against the disease.

Leo Santa Cruz (32-1-1, 18 knockouts) suffered the first defeat of his career, losing the belt he won also by a majority decision when he beat Abner Mares last August. He defended it five months ago when he stopped Kiko Martinez in five rounds.

Frampton won the 126 pound title despite giving away two inches in height and four inches in reach to Santa Cruz.

He is now 5-0 in title fights and 8-0 in fights above 122 pounds.

The crowd of 9,062 at the Barclays Center arena included four-time major championship winning golfer Rory McIlroy.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

After beating Bedak, Donaire calls out Frampton, Rigo

MANILA, Philippines – World super bantamweight champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire does not want to slow down at all, following a quick victory over Hungary's Zsolt Bedak in Cebu City last Saturday night.

Fighting in the searing Cebu heat, Donaire unleashed his patented left hook on Bedak, bloodying his Hungarian foe en route to a third round stoppage – and his fourth win in a row since getting knocked out by Nicholas Walters in 2014.

After expressing his gratitude, in fluent Bisaya, to the huge crowd that cheered on his every punch, Donaire called out his potential opponents – Northern Ireland's Carl Frampton and unbeaten Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux.

"Kailangan ko pang mas maayos pa 'yung training ko at 'yung strategy ko, pero andoon sila Frampton and Rigondeaux," Donaire said. "Reding-ready na ako sa kanila."

"Bisaya ako, Pilipino ako – hindi ako matatakot kahit sino diyan," he declared.

The 29-year-old Frampton has an unbeaten record of 22-0, with 14 wins coming by knockout. Most recently, he defeated Scott Quig via split decision in February to retain his IBF belt and claim the vacant WBA super bantamweight title.

It remains to be seen if Donaire will get his wish to fight Frampton, as the Irishman is set to move up to featherweight where will challenge Leo Santa Cruz.

Donaire has long campaigned for a rematch against Rigondeaux, who defeated him in April 2013, ending his 29-bout winning streak.

Since beating Donaire, Rigondeaux has racked up four more victories and currently holds the WBC international super bantamweight title as well as the lineal super bantamweight belts.

Donaire is also hoping that he can get to fight his next bout in Cebu once more.

"Di ko akalain na ganitong karaming tao," he said. "Kaya nagpapasalamat ako sa kanila ng husto. Na-feel ko talaga ang pressure noong palabas ako – naka-smile ako pare ayoko makita ang lahat ng tao, kasi baka ma-pressure ako."

"Naka-look down lang ako, kasi gusto ko talagang manalo sa laban na ito," he added.

The fight in Cebu marks the second time in his last four matches that Donaire has fought at home; back in March 2015, he fought and stopped Brazil's William Prado in the second round of their fight at the Araneta Coliseum.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com