The Monster is back.
Naoya Inoue enjoyed a successful return to the ring following a 52-week break, but needed less than two rounds to dispose of Warlito Parrenas in their Fuji TV headliner Tuesday evening in Tokyo, Japan.
Two knockdowns produced the quick finish for Inoue at 1:20 of round two.
It wasn’t the cap to the Fighter of the Year campaign that he enjoyed in closing out 2014, but Inoue will gladly take any fight in the ring over the lengthy inactive period he was forced to endure. Out for most of 2015 to rest and rehabilitate following hand surgery, the unbeaten 22-year old was methodical yet merciless in his destruction of Parrenas, a streaking contender from Philippines who was in way over his head.
Action was slow out the gate in round one, understandable considering Inoue was shaking off a year’s worth of ring rust. Parrenas tried to capitalize on the situation, but could fare no better than to remain on his feet for all three minutes of the opening round.
That didn’t last for long.
Inoue was quick to the strike, dropping Parrenas less than a minute into round two. The visiting challenger barely beat the mandatory eight count, but his eyes were glazed and seemed frozen in rising to his feet.
A volley of punches soon followed, with Parrenas back on the deck moments later courtesy of a straight right, left hook combination. This time, referee Michael Ortega – doing his best to give the 32-year old contender every chance to fight back – jumped in to immediately halt the contest.
