DONAIRE WINS WBO TITLE!

By Dennis Principe

Filipino-American boxer Glenn “The Filipino Bomber” captured the vacant WBO Asia Pacific flyweight crown after decisioning veteran Wangpanom Vor Saktawee of Thailand last November 22 at the University of Guam.

The 22-year old Donaire (10-1, 7 KO’s) won the crown which was incidentally vacated by younger brother, WBO #15 Nonito, Jr who will be sidelined for 4-6 months due to an injured left hand.

Donaire, a known slugger, immediately duked it out with the much taller Saktawee (25-5, 3 KO’s) right in the first round. But a strong right straight from Donaire forced the Thai fighter to back off from the Fil-Am’s powerful blows.

In the 9th round, Donaire, who was born in General Santos City, Philippines and raised in San Leandro, California, unleashed a straight-hook combination which wobbled the legs of the weary Saktawee.

An unintentional headbutt floored Donaire in the last round but this did not dampen his spirit from finishing the fight and winning the crown.

Official scores of the fight were 119-109, 118-112 and 118-110 all for Donaire.

Meanwhile, Oriental Pacific bantamweight champion and WBC #3 Jess Maca lost a controversial 10-round split verdict to Masakazu Sugawara last Sunday at the Nagoya International Conference Arena in Japan.

Sugawara (15-2-4, 7 KO’s) got the nod of two judges with identical 97-96 score while the third judge gave it to Maca, 97-95.

The 30-year old Bohol native Maca (42-17-5, 17 KO’s) is preparing for a shot at WBC champion Veerapol Sahaprom of Thailand and is hoping that his latest setback will not affect his chances.