Rigondeaux beats Donaire to unify super-bantamweight division

Guillermo Rigondeaux punches Nonito Donaire during Saturday title bout in New York

Guillermo Rigondeaux handed Nonito Donaire his first defeat in 12 years as the Cuban retained his WBA super-bantamweight title in New York.

Double Olympic gold medallist Rigondeaux survived a 10th-round knockdown to win by a unanimous decision and take Donaire's WBO belt.

Philippine Donaire was unbeaten in 30 fights, while it was only Rigondeaux's 12th fight in the paid ranks.

"You saw it," said Rigondeaux. "Moving, boxing, you can't win with one shot."

A straight left hand from Rigondeaux caused Donaire to stumble in the first round before Donaire rocked his rival with a clubbing right in the fourth.

Rigondeaux, 32, upped his work-rate to win rounds six and seven, before going on the retreat and drawing boos from the crowd at Radio City Music Hall.

Donaire, 30, put Rigondeaux down with a short left at the start of the 10th but the Cuban's superior movement meant he prevailed 116-111, 115-112, 114-113 on the judges' scorecards.

Rigondeaux won Olympic gold in Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004, defected in 2007 but did not turn pro until he was 29 years old.