Raise your hand if you’re one of the diehard boxing fans who called in sick today because you pulled all-nighter watching the Naoya Inoue versus Nonito Donaire fight in Saitama, Japan. Well, at least the sleep deprivation was worth it because that was a fight-of-the-year contender. The “Filipino Flash” (41-6) almost pulled off a “Monster” upset over the rising star from the land of the rising sun, but ultimately fell short against Inoue (19-0) in a unanimous decision.
Donaire entered the ring in Goku-themed trunks and tapped into his vintage power levels, braving Inoue’s one-hit KO potential to impose his heavy-handed punches. In the second round, the “Filipino Flash” opened up a wide gash above Inoue’s eye, which nagged the 26-year-old fighter all fight.
The hometown fans had nothing to worry about, though. The Japanese superstar landed a harrowing body punch in the eleventh that sent Donaire keeling over with jumbled entrails. Like the true warrior he is, Donaire got up and continued fighting, albeit with a controversial long count that was likely closer to a minute than ten seconds. Still, the knockdown sealed Inoue’s unanimous decision victory and the Japanese phenom leaves Saitama Super Stadium with the WBSS Muhammad Ali trophy as well as the WBA bantamweight title.
It’s an unanticipated but welcomed surprise to see the beloved Donaire finish the fight on his feet. Like his career-defining upset over Vic Darchinyan over a decade ago, Donaire stepped up when he was only expected to be fodder.
The good news doesn’t end there as Inoue inked a lucrative deal with Bob Arum’s Top Rank Boxing before his sweat had dried, which means that “The Monster” will be coming to the U-S-A.
The Inoue clan goes .500
It wasn’t all cherry blossoms and honey toast for the Inoue clan. “The Monster’s” green-haired baby brother Takuma Inoue (13-1) took his first loss to WBC champion Nordine Oubaali (17-0) in a unanimous decision.
Although the defeat put a damper on the Inoue brothers’ becoming the Japanese bantamweight version of the Klitschkos, little bro is a former Ring Magazine’s Prospect of the Year in 2015 and is still only 23. Perhaps “The Monster” will one day seek revenge on the Frenchman? Now, that would be worth staying up late for again.
