MANILA – Filipino boxer Nonito Donaire Jr. fashioned out a sixth round knockout win over American Stephon Young to retain the WBA super bantamweight belt on Sunday at the Cajun Dome in Lafayette, Louisiana.
It was the first successful title defense of the Talibon, Bohol native Donaire to the world championship he captured against Ryan Burnett last December at Glasglow in Scotland.
The victory also, which served as the semifinals round of the World Boxing Super Series, advanced the Filipino Flash to the final round against either WBA regular champion Naoya Inoue or IBF beltholder Emmanuel Rodriguez of Puerto Rico.
Donaire has been dominant since the start as he unloaded multiple combinations on Young. The American tried to counter with his own attacks in the second and third but the Filipino let go of a left to the head to stagger his foe heading into the fourth.
Donaire did damage on Young in the fourth as a left uppercut bloodied the latter’s nose. After a good fifth round by Young in the fifth, Donaire went for the kill in the sixth as he landed a vicious left hook to the head of Young sending the latter to the canvas.
Young, who was knocked down and decisioned by Filipino Raymart Gaballo last year, was a last minute replacement foe for Donaire as his original opponent South African Zolani Tete sustained an injury.
With the victory, the 36-year-old Donaire improved his record to 40-5-0 win-loss-draw ring record with 26 stoppage wins, while the 30-year-old Young dropped his slate to 18-2-3 card, including seven knockout wins./PN
