In a hard fought match-up, Filipino Nonito Donaire dropped Kahren Harutyunyan once en route to a minor upset by split decision. The judges scoring was a bit closer than the bout itself,  but it was a competitive fight nonetheless. Donaire vs Harutyunyan was the 10 round super flyweight main event of an exciting five bout card from the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California. The bout was also the main event on Showtime's ShoBox series.

    Donaire was able to use his height and reach to his advantage to score the victory. The opening round was fairly even, with both fighters landing effective counters, but Donaire was a bit more effective. Donaire came out strong in the second round, dropping Harutyunyan with a solid left hook. Harutyunyan was able to recover quickly, even landing a solid overhand right. The third round was one of Harutyunyan's better rounds. Harutyunyan landed a solid chopping right hand, and followed it up with a solid left hook which back peddled Donaire.  Harutyunyan was successful this round by jabbing and moving more effectively.

     Donaire came back strong in round four. The Filipino fighter landed a neck snapping left hook to open the round. Donaire did a good job of mixing up his shots to the head and body. A good hard fought round, Harutyunyan was able to do his best work in close in the round. Round five was a good round for Harutyunyan as he kept the fight in close. Donaire started to turn the fight in round six, as he was able to keep Harutyunyan at bay, and did great work from the outside. He used his reach and landed some hard right crosses that stopped Harutyunyan in his tracks. In rounds seven through nine, Donaire did more of the same. He kept the fight on the outside and pecked away at Harutyunyan whenever he tried to come inside.

    Harutyunyan did close the fight strong as he bullied his way and did good work inside. The tenth round was the way Harutyunyan wished the whole fight would have gone. Harutyunyan was able to outwork Donaire inside and won the round, but it would not be enough. The fight went to the cards, and surprisingly it was a split decision, but Donaire did get the win. Donaire won by scores of 97-92,97-92, and 94-95. BRC scored the fight 97-92 for Donaire. A solid win for Donaire in the main event on ShoBox. With the win Donaire improves to 14-1, while Harutyunyan falls to 13-3-3.

     In the televised co-feature, Israel Hernandez pulled off an exciting upset knockout win over previously unbeaten Tyrone Harris in the fourth round of a scheduled 10 round lightweight bout. An exciting fight from the onset, Harris came out and jumped all over Hernandez in the opening round. Hernandez had no answer for Harris' left hand in the opening round. Harris even opened up a bloody cut over Hernandez's right eye. It looked as if Harris was going to walk over Hernandez, but Hernandez would recover. The fight settled down a bit in round two, as Hernandez focused on the body and did good work, probably stealing the round.

     Fireworks would erupt in round three as Harris started to find a home for his left hand again. The round started strange for Hernandez, but ended well. Hernandez fought the first thirty seconds without a mouthpiece, as his corner just forgot to put it back in. Harris looked solid early in the round as he was able to consistently land his counter straight left. Hernandez though, was starting to land some also. He later landed a hard left uppercut, which slowed down Harris. Late in the round, Hernandez would turn the fight around with another hard left uppercut which greatly stunned Harris. Harris was able to survive the round.

     Harris showed no ill effects to begin round four as he came out firing, but maybe he should have taken it a little easier. Hernandez was able to stun Harris again with another uppercut. Hernandez then jumped on Harris throwing a flurry of uppercuts, followed by some body shots. After the body shots, Hernandez landed a crisp left uppercut which immediately dropped Harris. Harris narrowly beat the count, but referee David Mendoza asked Harris to walk to him, and when Harris couldn't, Mendoza waved off the fight. Hernandez celebrated, and pulled off the upset in his first fight in the United States. Hernandez wins by TKO at 1:16 of round 4. Hernandez, a native  of Mazatlan, Mexico improves to 12-1-1 with 12 KOs, while Harris of Lansing, Michigan falls to 14-1. This wrapped up the televised portion of the Pechanga card. 

1-20-2006