FanHouse Nonito Donaire

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Nonito Donaire unanimously outpointed Rafael Concepcion on Saturday night to take the WBA interim title in his super flyweight debut.

Donaire, the 26-year-old Filipino star who vacated his IBF flyweight title to move up in weight, improved to 22-1 with his 21st consecutive victory. Judge Max De Luca scored the fight 117-111, Duane Ford had it 115-113, and Jerry Roth called it 116-112.

"I'm here to give honor to my country," said Donaire, cheered on by a large Filipino crowd at the Hard Rock. "We are great fighters. I came here to represent and fight with all of my heart."

SAN CARLOS, Calif. -- Filipino world flyweight champion Nonito "The Filipino Flash" Donaire (21-1, 14 KOs) knows that his growing legion of boxing fans -- and many in the sport -- view him as the next Manny Pacquaio.

To that end, Donaire recalls the tension he felt April 19 inside a packed Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippines. Those nerves were not because he was preparing to fight previously undefeated Raul Martinez (24-1) of San Antonio for an IBF title defense.

Donaire, 26, who moved to California from the Philippines at age 10, also is a devoted student of boxing history. Araneta Coliseum gained fame as the site of the third and final match between heavyweights Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1975, the "Thrilla in Manila," and Donaire was nearly overwhelmed by the experience and pressure of fighting there.