Nonito Donaire knocked down Wilfredo Vazquez Jr in the ninth round en route to a split decision over the former champ Saturday in a super bantamweight title bout in San Antonio, Texas. Donaire, a former International Boxing Federation flyweight and World Boxing Council bantamweight title holder, claimed the World Boxing Organization belt in his first foray at super bantamweight. Donaire, of the Philippines, brought plenty of his power with him into the heavier weight class, dropping Vazquez in the ninth with a left uppercut followed by a left hook. Donaire had rocked Vazquez in the third round and appeared in control until the Puerto Rican began to assert himself in the fifth and sixth rounds. Despite the tenacity of Vazquez, Donaire said he was surprised that judge Ruben Garcia scored the bout 115-112 for the Puerto Rican. Judges Levi Martinez and Don Trella both saw it 117-110 for Donaire, who said he hurt his left hand early in the bout and displayed what appeared to be a bloodied hand wrap when he removed his gloves after the fight. Donaire, who also once held the World Boxing Association interim super flyweight championship but not the official crown, improved to 28-1 with 18 knockouts. Vazquez fell to 21-2-1 with 17 wins inside the distance. Chavez retains title Unbeaten Julio Cesar Chavez Jr retained his World Boxing Council middleweight title Saturday with a 12-round unanimous decision over Marco Antonio Rubio in San Antonio, Texas. Chavez, son of Mexican boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez – who looked on throughout from ringside at the Alamodome – overcame his difficulties making the middleweight limit to claim the victory by scores of 118-110, 116-112 and 115-113. Chavez admitted that his trouble making weight took a toll. But he successfully fended off the determined challenge of Rubio, who just didn't have enough power to really hurt the champion despite his willingness to go toe-to-toe with him. After the bout, Chavez said that he still had no interest in moving up in weight, and that he was eager to take on the best of the middleweight ranks – Argentina's Sergio Martinez, Mexican Antonio Margarito or Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto. Hernandez defends title Yoan Pablo Hernandez of Cuba successfully defended his IBF cruiserweight title with a unanimous decision win over Steve Cunningham in their rematch Saturday. Cunningham improved in the later rounds but was unable to make up for the knockdowns. The judges awarded it 116-110, 116-110 and 115-111.
