Report: Donaire may have injured cheek vs Darchinyan

MANILA, Philippines – Nonito Donaire’s lackluster performance in the boxer's ninth-round technical knockout win over Vic Darchinyan over the weekend may have been due to an injury he sustained early in the match.

ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael reported that Donaire may have hurt his cheek early in his 10-round featherweight fight with Darchinyan at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, a bout he appeared to be losing until the stoppage came.

Cameron Dunkin, Donaire’s manager, said his ward had undergone a post-fight X-ray test that revealed a possible injury.

 "[The X-ray] showed maybe a hairline fracture, but not a significant one. We think it will heal, as opposed to Nonito needing surgery. So it may be fine. We're thinking it will be fine. But he'll have the MRI on Tuesday to be sure what is wrong," Dunkin said.

Donaire had been on the receiving end of some powerful left hands from Darchinyan throughout the fight and was trailing on two judges’ scorecards prior to the stoppage. The Filipino-American knocked Darchinyan down with a booming left hook at the midway point of the ninth round then shortly went for the kill with several unanswered haymakers, prompting referee Lawrence Cole to halt the bout at the 2:06 mark.

Dunkin said Donaire was bothered by his cheek in the early parts of the match.

"After the fight, he said he was not in any real pain, but he was uncomfortable. It happened when he got hit with a looping overhand left in the third or fourth round," said Dunkin.

If everything turns out to be fine, Donaire will reportedly be back in the ring on Jan. 25 at a boxing card in New York. His opponent, Rafael reported, could be featherweight titlist Nicholas Walters (23-0, 19 KOs).

Donaire has likewise expressed intention to take a rematch with Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux, who beat him on points for the WBO and WBA super bantamweight belts last April.