SI.com, the website of the popular sport magazine, named Donaire's demolition of the durable former champion as 2011's Knockout of the Year.
Donaire, 29, dropped Montiel with a solid left hook two minutes in the second round of their 12-round title match at the Mandalay Bay Resort Hotel and Casino on February 19.
Although the 34-year-old Montiel managed to get up and survived the standing eight-count, the Mexican was obviously hurt by his bigger and stronger opponent. Donaire went on and pressured Montiel, dominating the champion before referee Russel Mora decided to the stop the fight at the 2:25 mark.
"Yes, Montiel got up from the crushing overhand left that nearly caved in half his face, but he only lasted a few seconds before the referee stepped in to save him," said the article that accompanied the Knockout of the Year choice.
"Couple that with the significance of the match-up–both Donaire and Montiel were pound-for-pound guys going at it in a highly anticipated bantamweight bout, the knockout becomes that much more impressive."
It was Donaire's second honor of such magnitude.
His stunning fifth-round KO win of the cocky Vic Darchinyan for the International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight belt four years ago was also chosen as 2007's Knockout of the Year.
Acknowledged among the top five pound-for-pound fighters in the world today, Donaire successfully defended his WBC and WBO 118-pound titles with a 12-round unanimous decision over Omar Andres Narvaez of Argentina two months ago at the Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Donaire returns to action in February where he will challenge Puerto Rican Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. for the vacant WBO super-bantamweight title. — JVP, GMA News
0 comments:
Post a Comment