MANILA – Filipino Nonito Donaire Jr. and Japanede Naoya Inoue are set to square off anew in a world bantamweight unification bout tonight at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
At stake in the championship bout are Donaire’s World Boxing Council’s (WBC) bantamweight belt and Inoue’s World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) division belts.
During their first encounter last November, 2019, Donaire went toe-to-toe with Inoue for 12 rounds before surrendering a close unanimous decision defeat.
“Our first fight was brutal and amazing, it was a classic, and even dubbed as Fight of the Year, but the rematch is going to be even better,” the 39-year-old Talibon, Bohol native said.
“I am heading into this monumental fight with a new mindset, because the first contest with Inoue was an awakening for me and I now know I can defeat him,” he added.
“This is not only the fight I wanted, but the one the world wanted as well. June 7, in Japan, is going to be a special evening for the sport and make no mistake, it will end in a Donaire victory,” he further said.
Inoue, for his part, said he is determined to make the rematch more one-sided than the 2019 clash and even bragged that the bout “will be over without him touching me.”
“I think Donaire might retire if he loses,” the 29-year-old Inoue said. “People say Donaire can still do the business but it’s not going to be that kind of fight. There will be no Drama in Saitama.”
Donaire, a four-weight world champion, will be entering the match with an impressive 42-6-0 win-loss-draw ring record, including 28 victories by way of stoppages.
Inoue, on the other hand, still has a perfect 22-0-0 win-loss-draw slate, with 19 of his triumphs by way of stoppages./PN
