Despite getting a different opponent on just three days' notice, Nonito Donaire made a statement in knocking out Stephon Young.
In the first semifinal fight of the second season of the World Boxing Super Series, Donaire landed a thunderous left hook to Young's chin to retain the WBA "Super" bantamweight title. With the win, Donaire also advances to the World Boxing Super Series bantamweight finals.
Donaire showed some pop in his punches early in the fight where he landed the left hook with relative ease. Young had his moments to showcase his power as he also managed to surprise Donaire with the counter left hook, but it was the Filipino champion who had control of the fight.
Late in the third round, it was Donaire's right hand that hurt Young as he landed a straight right that pushed Young back and staggered him. Young would recover, but didn't do much to present any real threat to Donaire from that point forward. At the end of the sixth round, Donaire landed the deciding left hook that finished Young immediately, advancing to the tournament finals.
Originally, Donaire was going to face WBO champion Zolani Tete in the semifinals, but it was revealed during fight week that Tete suffered a shoulder injury and was unable to compete. As a result, Tete and his WBO title, were taken out of the tournament and was replaced by Young. Although one world title was taken out of the tournament, Donaire will still get a chance to have a unification fight in the finals as he will face the winner of the Naoya Inoue vs. Emmanuel Rodriguez bout for the IBF title next month.
