Donaire KO punch awes trainer

HOLLYWOOD—As a former world champion and now rising trainer, Robert Garcia doesn’t easily dish out superlatives.

But when he saw Nonito Donaire Jr. annihilate Mexican warrior Jorge Arce in three rounds Saturday night in Houston, Garcia couldn’t help but lavish praises on his fighter.

“Donaire’s unreal, he’s spectacular,” Garcia said. “His power is unbelievable. Wherever he hits you—head, neck, shoulder—it doesn’t matter. He’ll hurt you real bad.”

Arce felt it for sure after getting tagged and receiving standing eight-counts in the second and third rounds. Then, with just one second to go in the third, he went down for good.

The proud Mexican, who decided to hang up his gloves after the defeat with a 61-win, 7-loss, 2-draw record right, was unconscious even before he hit the canvas.

It was Donaire’s feared left hook that knocked the daylights out of Arce, himself a power puncher with 46 knockouts.

The 30-year-old Donaire (31-1 with 20 KOs) swears by the power of his left, saying that if he sets it up right and gets it off in the nick of time, it would knock anybody out.

Donaire’s power also impressed promoter Bob Arum, who said that he intends to get Donaire “very busy” for the coming year.

Arum emphasized, however, that he wants to give Donaire some breathing space, with the Filipino’s next fight against two-time Olympic champion and reigning WBA super bantam king Guillermo Rigondeaux set in March.