LAS VEGAS -- Nonito Donaire won the WBO and WBC bantamweight championships Saturday night, stopping Fernando Montiel in the second round.
Donaire rocked Montiel with a left hook that sent the champion to the canvas.
Montiel surprisingly made it back to his feet only to see referee Russell Mora stop the fight moments later at 2:25 of the round.
Donaire controlled most of the first round, landing a left hook that briefly stunned Montiel and came out swinging in the second round, landing a few combinations before stunning the champion with a solid hook that all but ended the fight.
"I hit him with a left hook, looked down and saw him twitching," Donaire said. "I knew the fight was over then."
Montiel's body slumped to the mat as Donaire raised his hands and jumped in celebration.
"I needed to be strong but it was the speed that was the key. He left himself open and that gave me the advantage," the new champion said. "I was surprised he got up after I landed that flush shot."
Donaire (26-1, 18 knockouts) has won 25 consecutive fights, and will likely be elevated to one of the top handful of fighters in the world.
"I just came out there believing in what I had," added Donaire. "I want to be undisputed in this weight class, if not I want to go up in weight."
Montiel dropped to 44-3-2 (34 KOs).
"I knew we both had the punching power to knock each other out," Montiel said. "I made the first mistake and I paid for it."
Montiel was taken to University Medical Center for precautionary measures.
In the co-main event, Mike Jones remained undefeated with a unanimous decision against Jesus Soto Karass in a rematch of their controversial fight last November.
Jones pulled off a majority decision in their first bout that many thought could have gone either way.
Jones controlled most of this fight, cutting Soto Karass over both eyes in the third round on his way to a 115-113, 116-112, 117-111 victory.
On the undercard, welterweight prospect Mark Melligen earned a unanimous decision win over Gabriel Martinez and Mickey Bey and Jose Hernandez fought to a majority draw. Yordenis Ugas and Mike Alvarado also earned victories in the preliminary fights.
Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press
