Donaire beats Martinez in TKO

Nonito Donaire beat Raul Martinez today at the Araneta Coliseum.

Donaire, the reigning IBF flyweight champion from Bohol, put the title he sensationally won against Vic Darchinyan in July of 2007 at stake against the Mexican-American who said he didn’t come here to lose. But lost Martinez did as Donaire beat him via a technical knockout in the fourth round.

Donaire and Martinez have faced each other once, during their young, amateur days in the United States. The Filipino won that one on points, but even both fighters have a very vague idea of how it went.

After beating Darchinyan, Donaire knocked out Luis Maldonado in December of 2007, but spent 11 months looking for a fight until he crushed Moruti Mthalane last November for a 20-1-0 record.

Martinez was the busier fighter last year. He fought four times, and won them all, fighting as heavy as 117 lbs, and dropping