Nonito Donaire, pictured, outpointed Rafael Concepcion on Saturday to take the WBA interim title in his super flyweight debut.

Nonito Donaire, pictured, outpointed Rafael Concepcion on Saturday to take the WBA interim title in his super flyweight debut.

Donaire, 26, from Philippines, vacated his IBF flyweight title to move up in weight. He improved to 22-1 with his 21st consecutive victory.

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

Donaire used a potent jab to cut open a gash under the left eye of his Panamanian opponent midway through the second round.

"The cut really bothered me in the first few rounds, but I got used to it," Concepcion said.

"I was expecting a fight from a real Filipino fighter, not a runner. He didn't want to fight. He wanted to run. If he would have had a warriors' heart, we would have exchanged more punches."

Donaire, who successfully defended his flyweight title three times, including a stoppage against Moruti "Baby Face" Mathalane, is determined to get fights with Fernando Montiel and Jorge Arce, the super flyweight division's two biggest names, before moving up, perhaps eventually to lightweight.

"I'm ready for the big guys in that weight class." Donaire said.

- Sapa-AP