UNANIMOUS WINNER Nonito Donaire of the Philippines celebrates a unanimous decision over Jeffery Mathebula of South Africa during the WBO IBF Super Bantamweight title fight at The Home Depot Center on July 7, 2012, in Carson, California. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines — Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire settled for a unanimous decision over Jeffrey Mathebula to unify the WBO and IBF world titles Sunday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.
The Judges had it 117-110, 118-109 and 119-108.
Donaire floored Mathebula with a crushing left hook in the fourth round but the South African managed to beat the count and was saved by the bell.
The four-division champion Donaire, who gave up four inches in height, looked for the kill in the ensuing rounds but Mathebula surprisingly was able to recover and force the decision.
Donaire racked up his 28th straight win. He hasn’t lost since Rosendo Sanchez beat him via unanimous decision on March 10, 2001.
Donaire, who improved his record to 29-1 with 18 knockouts, rocked Mathebula anew in the fifth with solid lefts.
Mathebula tried to fight from the outside to exploit his size advantage and had some moments when he was able to connect.