Daily Tribune‘Next time, I will give it all and do my best. Today, this is my victory and also Argentina’s victory for this opportunity.’
Nonito Donaire (left) and Chilean Andres Campos trade power shots in their interim WBA bantamweight title fight Sunday in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Photograph courtesy of Boxeo de Primera/IG
Nonito Donaire punched a ticket to a world title shot on Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila) when he edged Chilean Andres Campos via a ninth-round technical decision in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The victory awarded Donaire the interim World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight title and more importantly, the assurance that he will be next in line to battle the winner of the 30 July clash between regular champion Antonio Vargas of the United States and Daigo Higa of Japan.
The fight — set for 12 rounds at the Casino Buenos Aires — was called to a halt one minute into the ninth stanza after a cut was opened on Donaire’s right eye, compromising his eyesight, owing to an accidental clash of heads.
At 42, Donaire fought hard to earn the nod of all three judges, who saw it 87-84, 87-84, 88-83 after referee Luis Pabon called a halt to the action upon the advice of the ringside physician.
It was his first fight in nearly two years and it showed when he could not get rid of Campos, 28, who was just testing the bantamweight waters.
Still, Donaire boosted his win-loss-draw record to 43-8-0 with 28 knockouts while the defeat dropped Campos’ mark to 17-3-1 with six stoppages.
An apologetic Donaire, known for his sensational knockout victories stretching back to as far back as 17 years ago, assured everyone that he still has a lot left in the tank.
“Sorry that this happened… I wanted to show my fighting heart and warrior spirit to the people of Argentina,” said the four-division world champion in a story posted by boxingscene.
“Next time, I will give it all and do my best. Today, this is my victory and also Argentina’s victory for this opportunity,” added the Las Vegas-based Donaire.
Before taking on Campos, Donaire lost to Mexican Alejandro Santiago in a bid to snatch the World Boxing Council strap. And prior to the Santiago setback, he was knocked out by Naoya Inoue in less than two rounds in their rematch.
While inactive for almost two years, Donaire was always in training mode, hoping to get a high-profile match but never securing one until the WBA’s call for him to step up to the plate and face Campos.
The Buenos Aires card was a WBA’s presentation that forms a part of its annual anti-drugs campaign.
