T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas - For the vacant WBC bantamweight title, Alexandro Santiago (28-3-5, 14 KOs) picked up the biggest win of his career with a tough unanimous decision win over former four division champion Nonito Donaire (42-8, 28 KOs). (photos by Esther Lin, Ryan Hafey)
The scores were 115-113, 116-112 and 116-112.
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The contest began in a very calculated pace, with both boxing and looking for openings. The second round would see more exchanges between the two as the fight was heating up.
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In the third, a big left hook by Donaire opened up a cut above the right eye of Santiago. The fourth saw Santiago getting more aggressive and landing solid punches. At this point a mouse was growing under the right eye of Donaire. In the fifth, Santiago was starting to connect more often as he backed Donaire up.
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Both had their moments in the sixth and seventh, in a close fight, but Santiago was landing well and taking chances to get his offense in. There was a clash of heads in the seventh to open up a cut around the left eye of Santiago. During the eight, Santiago was really applying pressure and putting on the punches on Donaire.
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Donaire was having a solid ninth, until Santiago began to rally with hard punches in the closing moments. Donaire's eyes were both swelling up as the action played out in the tenth. Santiago was unloading on Donaire at times during the eleventh. In the twelfth and final round, Donaire tried his best to change the tide, but Santiago was still punching away and outlanding the veteran.
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