WBA super flyweight champion Nonito Donaire connects against his embattled opponent, Mexican Manuel Vargas, whom the Filipino champion easily disposed of with a third round knockout in their scheduled 12-round bout at the Las Vegas Hilton in Nevada Sunday

Filipino boxing sensation Nonito Donaire retained the World Boxing Association interim super flyweight championship Sunday following a flawless third round knockout of Manuel Vargas of Mexico at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas, Nevada.

A left uppercut by Donaire sent Vargas flat on his back at 1:33 of the third of their scheduled 12-round bout.

The Mexican, who took the place of Gerson Guerrero just three days ago, was counted out by referee Joe Cortez.

Guerrero pulled out after doctors discovered a tear on his retina during a medical check-up last week.

Before accepting the fight, Vargas was gearing up for a March showdown with WBC champion Rodel Mayo. To his credit, Vargas came to fight.

“He (Vargas) could not back me up so the last round I tried to figure him out much easier. My corner told me to relax because I was stiff though I felt I was the bigger guy,” said Donaire.

After moving from side to side and throwing right straights, Donaire threw the bomb that ended the bout. The 27-year-old Donaire, who improved to 23-1 with 15 knockouts, is being lined up for several marquee fights within the year by American promoter Bob Arum. “I’m a fighter and I’m here to fight. That’s what I came for. I will just listen to my guys and see what happens,” said Donaire. Among those being considered by Arum as Donaire’s next opponent are world bantamweight champion Fernando Montiel and fellow super flyweight rulers Jorge Arce and Vic Darchinyan.

Montiel may be a perfect foe for Donaire as the Mexican saw action in the co-feature dubbed “Pinoy Power 3/Latin Fury 13,” and needed just one left hook to the body in the opening round to finish off inexperienced Filipino Ciso Morales.

Montiel (40-2-2, 30 KOs) kept his WBO bantamweight crown and could face Donaire, who has indicated his desire to move up in weight.

Meanwhile, veteran Gerry Peñalosa suffered a heartbreaking 12-round split decision to Puerto Rican Eric Morel in an interim world bantamweight title fight.

Peñalosa, 37, stalked Morel the whole night and appeared in control in the last half of the bout.

Two nasty cuts on both eyes caused by clear head butts in the sixth did not stop Peñalosa from going after Morel, a fact not lost on Top Rank’s TV commentators that included Manny Pacquiao.

“Gerry is doing good with those body shots and he is ahead. He should just run around in the final round because he is ahead on points,” said Pacquiao.

Two of the three judges, however, saw it the other way, scoring it 115-113 and 116-112 for Morel. The third judge penned it 115-113 for Penalosa.

Two more Filipinos scored impressive wins during the night, with Bernabe Concepcion outpointing former world title challenger Mario Santiago of Puerto Rico in their 10-round non-title tiff and Mark Jason Melligen stopping erstwhile unbeaten Mexican Raymond Gatica in the sixth round.