WBA and IBF bantamweight champion Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue 22-0 (19) believes his power will get the job done in his rematch against WBC 118-pound champion Nonito ‘The Filipion Flash’ Donaire 42-6 (28) at the Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on June 7.
Their first fight at the same venue in November 2019 was declared Fight of the Year by the esteemed Ring Magazine with the 28-year-old Japanese superstar claiming victory via unanimous decision by scores of 116-111, 114-113 and 117-109.
Filipino Donaire, 39, went down from a liver shot in the 11th round but he took his pound of flesh too, shattering Inoue’s orbital bone. It was a battle for the ages.
“I’m very much motivated to display my improved real power to Donaire,” Inoue said. “Whatever strategy he may select and show, I’ll cope with him with no problem since I’m in great shape.
“Last time I had a grueling fight with him, but this time it won’t become like that. I’ll be convincingly victorious without fail.”
Donaire won his first world title in 2007 when he knocked out IBF flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan in the fifth round with a picture perfect left hook.
Fast forward 14 years and he claimed the WBC bantamweight belt from previously undefeated Frenchman Nordine Oubaali in a four round rout.
Donaire successfully defended the strap against another undefeated fighter, Reymart Gaballo, in December last year. The result was another fourth round knockout.
The evergreen Donaire is promising big things against Inoue, who is widely regarded as one of the best boxers in the world pound-for-pound. He recently signed with fledgling promotional outfit Probellum, led be the experienced Richard Schaefer.
“Our first fight was brutal and amazing, it was a classic, but the rematch is going to be even better,” Donaire 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.
“I am incredibly grateful for the work of Richard and Probellum in helping to make this fight a reality because it 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.”
“To be able to help bring together two of the best fighters in the world for this massive unification fight, is a proud moment for our business,” Probellum president Schaefer said.
“Probellum launched only eight months ago and has already been a key player in making sure the rematch between Donaire and Inoue becomes a reality.
“I am incredibly excited for this fight, so too are Donaire and Inoue and the whole of boxing cannot wait for it.”
