Three Filipino fighters recruited to help Nonito Donaire’s foe on 7 June swear Naoya Inoue is a monster.
Veteran Genesis Servania, who first served as Inoue’s sparring partner during the initial phase of training camp, insists the reigning World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation champion is a complete package.
“Inoue’s got everything — power, speed and ring smarts,” Servania told Daily Tribune from Japan.
Inoue first used Servania, who now campaigns in the lightweight division, when he commenced the buildup for the Donaire rematch in Saitama.
“Naoya was still a bit big when we started sparring and he was really strong,” Servania, a native of Bacolod City, said.
Even when Inoue was still not yet in fiery form, Servania had felt the Japanese puncher’s awesome firepower.
“Not only does he packs power but he also has a high fighting IQ and is very disciplined in training,” Servania, 33, added.
KJ Cataraja, who had once served as Inoue’s sparmate a few years ago, echoes Servania’s sentiments.
“Inoue has great timing and he knows when and where to place his best shots,” Cataraja, 26, said after doing four rounds of sparring on Thursday.
Cataraja arrived in Japan only last Sunday with another sparmate, newly-crowned Orient-Pacific Boxing Federation super-bantamweight king Pete Apolinar.
He and Apolinar will serve until the last day of training session.
During his latest brush with Inoue, the Cebu-born Cataraja, unbeaten in 14 fights with 12 knockouts, said he stood his ground even when he got struck with the very same liver shot that sent Donaire doubling up in pain in 2019.
“I took them but I’ll be very honest. Inoue’s punches feel different upon impact. Whenever he lands his punches, the feeling is different.”
Cataraja thinks it could be because Inoue has a particular way of throwing that’s why it lands on the perfect spot on the body and on the chin.
“His timing is perfect,” he said.
Servania isn’t dismissing Donaire, though.
“In terms of experience and skill-wise, Donaire still has it,” Servania said.
But there’s one thing that prevents Servania from going all-out for Donaire, who holds the World Boxing Council strap.
“It’s his age,” Servania said, hinting that what happened to Manny Pacquiao against Yordenis Ugas last year could happen to Donaire, who turns 40 in November.
“That’s the only thing that concerns me.” Servania added.
Cataraja adds fuel to the fire.
“Inoue has actually improved a lot (since the last time we sparred). He also has ramped up his speed. He’s much better now.”
