Rigondeaux beats Donaire to unify titles

Apr 14, 2013 - 4:38 AM New York, NY (Sports Network) - Guillermo Rigondeaux won a 12-round unanimous decision over Nonito Donaire in a super bantamweight unification title bout at Radio City Music Hall Saturday night.

The judges scored the fight 116-111, 115-112, and 114-113.

Rigondeaux (12-0, 8 KOs) kept his WBA title and grabbed the WBO version of the belt that was held by Donaire (31-2, 20 KOs), whose only previous loss came March 10, 2001, in his second professional fight.

Donaire apologized after the fight for his poor performance. By the end of the fight, there was a visible bruise under his right eye. Donaire said he would have surgery on his shoulder, but said there were no excuses for losing.

Rigondeaux carried the action, although limited, by connecting on 47 more punches than his counterpart. Donaire, though, delivered a left hook that put down the two-time Cuban Olympic gold medalist in the first minute of the 10th round.

Donaire, though, was hit hard by a left to the face that apparently impaired his vision early in the final round. Donaire kept his glove over his right eye throughout the remainder of the bout to avoid further damage.