DONAIRE OUTPOINTS HARUTYUNYAN TO WIN NABF TITLE,
HERNANDEZ SHOCKS PREVIOUSLY UNDEFEATED HARRIS
ON A “SHOBOX: THE NEW GENERATION” DOUBLEHEADER
FROM PECHANGA RESORT & CASINO, TEMECULA, CALIF.
Bouts
Will Be Replayed First Time On SHOWTIME TOO
On Saturday, Jan. 21, At Midnight ET/PT
TEMECULA, Calif. (Jan. 20, 2006) – Nonito “The Filipino Flash”
Donaire lived up to his billing as one of the top young fighters in the world
and captured the vacant North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super flyweight
title with a game, hard-fought 10-round split decision over Kahren Harutyunyan
Friday on “ShoBox: The New Generation” on SHOWTIME. In exactly the type of fight
that typifies what the “ShoBox” series is all about, virtual unknown Israel
Hernandez won the co-feature with a shocking fourth-round knockout over
previously undefeated Tyrone Harris.
The doubleheader from Pechanga Resort &
Casino was promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, and
aired at 11 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).
Donaire (14-1, 8 KOs), of Castro Valley, Calif., by way of
General Santos, Philippines, scored a second-round knockdown with a counter left
hook en route to winning by the scores of 97-92 twice and 94-95. The
physically gifted, powerful former amateur star turned back a determined late
challenge by Harutyunyan despite injuring his left hand in the early rounds.
“It is the same kind of cartilage injury I suffered in my last
fight,” said the RING magazine Prospect of the Month after his 13th
consecutive victory. “I was in a lot of pain, especially after the seventh
round. It made for me being off balance for a lot of the fight. I couldn’t use
my left hand as much as I wanted, but I knew I had to keep trying to use it and
fight through the pain. I give Kahren a lot of credit. He is a really nice guy
and fought his heart out. But I definitely thought I won the fight.
Harutyunyan (13-3-3, 0 KOs), of Glendale, Calif., by way of
Yerevan, Armenia, is listed at 5-foot-4, but he might be closer to 5-2. With
just a 62” reach, he seldom could get inside against the 5-6 Donaire, which --
along with the knockdown – may have been the difference. Harutyunyan possesses
good boxing skills and knows his way around the ring, but his physical
limitations were too much for him to overcome.
Still, he thought he had done enough to triumph.
“I am not going to say anything against the judges,” the
visibly dejected boxer said. “I don’t know how it looked from the side of the
ring. But I felt I did my best and came back strong. I know I won the 10th
round big. I thought I boxed well and was aggressive when I had to be. I thought
I did enough.’’
Hernandez (12-1-1, 12 KOs), of Mazatlan, Mexico, suffered a
cut near the left eye in the bout’s opening 30 seconds and fought the rest of
the way with blood streaming down the side of his face. For the initial 2½
rounds of his United States debut, he seemed clearly outclassed and overmatched.
But a left hand stunned Harris late in the third and it changed everything. A
vicious left uppercut finished Harris at 1:16 of the fourth.
“For me to win my first fight in America like this makes me
really very happy,” Hernandez said. “Not many people knew who I was before the
fight but maybe they will now. I knew after the first round that I hit harder
then him. This was definitely the biggest fight and biggest win of my career.’’
Harris (14-1, 12 KOs), of Lansing, Mich., was ahead by the
scores of 29-28 on the three judges’ scorecards entering the fourth. The
southpaw had easily out boxed the slower Hernandez from the outside during the
first 7½ minutes and seemed headed to perhaps an easy triumph. But then he got
rocked in the third and went down in the fourth. He beat the count and made it
to his feet, but the referee stopped it.
“I am disappointed that I lost and disappointed I did not get
the chance to go on,” Harris said. “I got caught with a good shot. That kind of
stuff happens. But I definitely felt I could continue. I have fought through
adversity before. I know how to survive. If they want to do a rematch, let’s do
it. I will be back.’’
Friday’s
telecast represented the 71st in the popular “ShoBox” series, which
debuted on SHOWTIME in July 2001. “ShoBox” features up-and-coming prospects
determined to make a mark and eventually fight for a chance at a world title. A
number of fighters who have appeared on the series have gone on to become world
champions, including Kermit Cintron, Juan Diaz, Leonard Dorin, Joan Guzman and
Scott Harrison.
Nick Charles called Friday’s action from ringside, with Steve
Farhood serving as expert analyst. The executive producer of the telecast was
Gordon Hall, with Richard Gaughan
producing.
In addition to the rebroadcast on Saturday, Jan. 21, at
midnight, Friday’s bouts also will be replayed on SHOWTIME EXTREME Monday at 8
p.m. and Wednesday at 11:30 p.m. and back on SHOWTIME TOO Thursday at 11 p.m.
The next “ShoBox’’ telecast is Friday, Feb. 3, on SHOWTIME (11
p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast.) In the main event, world-ranked unbeaten
southpaw Sechew “Iron Horse” Powell (18-0, 11 KOs) will make a record fifth
appearance on “ShoBox” when he takes on Robert “Push Up” Frazier (31-6-4, 15
KOs) in a 10-round junior middleweight match. Promising undefeated
Andre Berto (9-0, 7 KOs) and fellow unbeaten Jonathan Tubbs (7-0-1, 3 KOs)
collide in the eight-round welterweight co-feature.
The following night, Feb. 4, SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING will
offer a doubleheader at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast). In the
12-round main event, former two-time WBC lightweight champion Jose Luis Castillo
(53-7-1, 47 KOs) faces Rolando Reyes (26-3-2. 16 KOs). In the co-feature, Jose
Armando Santa Cruz (21-1, 12 KOs) will defend his NABF lightweight title against
Edner Cherry (19-3-2, eight KOs).
