By Chris LaBate
WaMu Theater, New York City - WBC/WBO bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (27-1, 18KOs) won a lopsided twelve round unanimous decision over previously undefeated WBO super flyweight king Omar Narvaez (35-1-2, 19KOs), who moved up in weight. All three judges scored it 120-108.
In the first three rounds, Narvaez showed exactly why most experts regard him as one of the best boxers in the sport. Narvaez used defense, ring generalship and sharp boxing to outhustle Donaire. In the fourth, Donaire stayed very busy, and Narvaez stayed very defensive. But, a big right hand hurt Narvaez in the final minute and he started to connect with a few punches to shake the veteran up.
The pace quickly changed in the fifth, with Donaire doing almost all of the work as Narvaez stayed away and held a tight guard in place. The same scenario continued for the next couple of rounds, with Narvaez doing a heavy amount of defense and not enough punching. Donaire just continued to outwork him and piled up the points.
Even in the championship rounds, Donaire threw all of the punches with any power or meaning. Narvaez stayed tight, defensive, and wouldn't exchange. During the twelfth round, a big portion of the crowd started chanting "this is bullsh*t" to express their displeasure with the lack of action.