NONITO DONAIRE TKO8 HERNAN MARQUEZ

After frittering away the first four rounds by boxing in the southpaw stance, Filipino Nonito Donaire got serious, shifting to his familiar orthodox position to hammer overmatched Hernan “Tyson” Marquez in eight rounds Showtime’s chief supporting bout on Saturday.
 
Mexico’s Marquez was game but really should have been pulled out by his  corner after getting dropped and hurt in the fifth of the bantam title bout. It was pointless letting Marquez continue, but Donaire seemed content to let his outclassed opponent linger before closing the show with a left uppercut in the eighth. Marquez picked himself up but referee Roberto Ramirez had seen enough.
 
Sometimes I wonder what goes through the mind of a cornerman. Marquez looked almost shell-shocked after getting dropped by Donaire’s left-hand bombs in the fifth, going to his knees later in the round (not officially ruled a knockdown) when his legs just seemed to give way.
 
The ending was impressive but Donaire was far too casual for my liking, and he took too many punches when he was doing his southpaw experiment, suffering some bruising around the eyes.
 
I wrote in the preview that I expected a win in about eight rounds for Donaire but, really, I have to say that I think he could have cut the time in half had he been of a mind to do so.