Ex-champion Montiel: I lost to a better fighter

Like a true sportsman, former world bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel admitted he lost to a better fighter in Nonito Donaire Jr. during their title showdown over the weekend at the Mandalay Bay hotel in Las Vegas. And yes, he's even man enough to admit he's never been as badly beaten in his colorful, 15-year pro career. "I'm fine, but I've never been hurt like that before," Montiel said in his first lengthy interview published by BoxingScene.com since fight night when Donaire's solid left hook sent him flat on his back. The 28-year-old Donaire followed up the staggering hook with a right uppercut just as Montiel was falling to the mat. The 31-year-old native of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico appeared gone for good as he lay supine, both his hands over his head, and his legs twitching. But proud champion that he is, Montiel, his legs wobbly, managed to get back on his feet to beat the mandatory 10-count of referee Russel Mora. When the fight resumed, the Filipino swarmed all over the battered Mexican, staggering him with a right and left combination, quickly prompting the referee to stop the bout. The end came in the 2:25 mark of the second round. The stunning ending to a showdown many thought would be a competitive one between two of the world's best bantamweight fighters came as a big disappointment for Montiel. "It hurts my pride because I know that it was a single punch that ended the fight," he said. It was the first knockout loss, a devastating one at that, in Montiel's career. The Mexican hasn't suffered a setback since 2006 when he yielded a split decision against Jhonny Gonzales for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight title. Montiel fell to 44-3, with 34 KOs, and left him title-less as Donaire snatched away his WBO and World Boxing Council (WBC) 118-lbs. belts. The Mexican admitted he’s very disappointed with the way he fought against the Filipino, but added that it was simply not his night. "I feel sad because I know the expectations that everybody had for me in that fight," Montiel said. "I had a great camp and I felt great, but in the end things did not go as I had expected." - RCJ, KY, JVP, GMA News