Jesus Gabriel "Jessie" Magdaleno defeated the reigning and defending WBO Super Bantamweight Champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire in a thrilling title fight to capture his first world title at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, last November 5, 2016. The 24 year-old Mexican-American controlled the action for most of the 12 round bout en route to a unanimous decision on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao-Jessie Vargas welterweight title fight.
The judges at ringside scored the fight 118-110, 116-112, 116-112 all for Jessie Magdaleno (24-0, 17 KOs). "I can't believe I won the title against a guy like him (Nonito Donaire). I don't have words to express how I feel right now," said the 24 year-old Jessie Magdaleno after the fight.
In an interview obtained by Boxing News 24, Jessie Magdaleno gave credit to Nonito Donaire saying that the former champion is an amazing warrior. Jessie Magdaleno added that Nonito Donaire came to fight and put on a great show. And a great show it was.
The title fight was an action-packed event. Jessie Magdaleno controlled the first half of the fight while Nonito Donaire (37-4, 24 KOs) came in strong in the championship rounds and almost knocked out Jessie Magdaleno in the 12th round. However, when the dust settled, it was Nonito Donaire who was stunned with the judges' decision. The Filipino claims that losing the fight never crossed his mind since he thought he was in control during the second half of the fight.
Nonito Donaire, the 2012's "Fighter of the Year", was not the only one baffled with the judges' score. Boxing experts including Kevin Iole and Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports, Josh Katzowitz boxing writer for Forbes, and Bob Velin of USA Today Sports were all surprised to see a score of 118-110 from Adalaide Byrd.
Amazing scores, I don't see 118-110. No way. I could see a Jessie Mag 115-113 win but he didn't win 10 of 12 rounds.
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) November 6, 2016
