Donaire-Mathebula and Pavlik-Rosinsky Results from Carson, California
By Sam Geraci at Ringside
In the co-main event, Kelly Pavlik (40-2, 34 KOs) looked sluggish and unimpressive in defeating Wil Rosinsky (16-2, 9 KOs) via unanimous decision with two scores of 98-91 and one score of 97-92. While Rosinsky was effective at times with the overhand right, ultimately, Pavlik’s size and ability to walk through Rosinksy’s power lead to a knockdown in the second and a wide unanimous decision on all scorecards.
After the fight, Pavlik expressed that he is ready for bigger fights and would like to take on any of the top fighters at 168lbs but realizes that those fights might not be in the near future. From ringside, based on this performance, it is clear that Pavlik is far removed from the fighter that defeated Jermain Taylor and fought a close fight with160lb King Sergio Martinez. Throughout the fight, Pavlik was unable or unwilling to throw the thudding jab followed by his dynamic right that was once the best in boxing. In addition to the absence of the one-two, Pavlik was also slow in countering with his left hook and unable to avoid the overhand right.
In the main event, Nonito Donaire (29-1, 18 KOs) defeated Jeffery
Mathebula (26-3-2) via wide unanimous decision with scores of 117-110,
118-109, and 119-109 to unify the WBO and IBF 122lbs titles. Donaire
pressured Mathebula throughout the fight and scored a devastating knockdown
in the fourth with a counter left hook that probably would have ended the
bout if it were not for the bell.
After the fight, Donaire expressed that Mathebula’s jab prevented him from
landing the knockout shots and that he might be interested in moving up and
fighting Mares.. Despite the wide margin of victory, Donaire showed
difficulty defending and countering Mathebula’s jab and straight right
hand. Overall, however, Donaire’s pure athleticism and ability to move
Mathebula with his shots, especialy the right to the body and his lunging
shots upstairs, were the difference.
