Last nite HBO B.A.D twin-bill was worth the peek - Nonito Donaire stunned the viewers, along with defending bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel with a stanza two KO at the 2.25 mark of its scheduled 12 rounder.

Montiel answers the opening bell the slower of the two, while Donaire peppers the defending champ with quicker start from the gate - then, round two with Montiel showing signs of life - and with it, there were hints this one could live up to the pre-fight hype.

Not to be - come the two-minute mark it's Montiel scoring with right hand to the jaw - the reaction was an instant Donaire counter left hook to the sweet spot that sees Montiel on the canvas in visible distress.

Referee Russell Mora begins the count, and to everyone's surprise, Montiel somehow beats the numbers, but is in no shape to defend himself as Donaire jumps on his prey with a final left hook, and Mora finally reacts with a no-mas.

Post Scripts: While the early knockout was a stunner, on paper this one was pretty much a coin flip. Montiel enters at 44-2-2 with 34 by stoppage- Donaire arrives at 25-1 with 17 KOs. The between the lines small print showed Donaire stopping celebrated power puncher Vic Darchinyan in similar fashion to last noche's performance.

                         Nonito Donaire (26-1, 18 KOs) ~ age 28 - claimed the WBC/WBO straps with the win, and could use them as a lure to unify a rich filled talented bantamweight division.

                         Fernando Montiel (44-3-2, 34 KOs) ~ age 31 - had trouble getting off in opening round - then stanza two attempted to force an offense that resulted in a right hand finding the mark. Surprise was then quickly being shot down with the Donaire power left hook.     

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                      The co-feature opened with welters Mike Jones facing Jesus Soto Karass in a return of their last meeting that closed with Jones getting the majority decision win. This one carried a triple prize of Jones'  NABO, NABA, WBC Continental Americas minor league straps up for grabs.

                       What we get in style is Jones the taller, slicker and more skilled than the super-game Mexican Karass - on my unofficial sheet, Karass grabs the opening candle before the Philly slickster with the "machine gun" sobriquet would run off a five stanza roll.

                       The difference in this outing to its first meeting was an improved Jones in the boxer/puncher department - didn't hurt the cause as early as stanza three Karass was leaking over both eyes. Replays showed the left eye injury came courtesy of inadvertent meeting of the minds while the right orbit was damaged from punch.

                       Still, with Karass wearing a red mask of courage, he would make it to the finish line, albeit in a losing cause.

                      Official scoring had it unanimous Jones 117-111, 116-112, 115-113 - while my cheat sheet saw it Jones 117-111 in points and 9-3 using round by round method.

                      Post Scripts: Mike Jones (24-0, 18 KOs) ~age 27- tall welter at 6' - decent power but not a second coming of former welter champion Tommy "Hit Man" Hearns,  that once enjoyed height advantages, coupled with major league clout in both hands. The Jones improvement in using the jab to set up power punches should help the cause. Still not ready for the jump from Triple-A to major league welter-jr. middle.

                                          Jesus Soto Karass (24-6-3, 16 KOs) ~ age 28 - clearly a poster child for the stereotype "Mexican Warrior" - never stopped trying to make it a brawl from start to finish. Brain trust should pick and choose carefully. Still young enough to make it worth the effort at club fight level.