Philippines, 26 Jan 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Sensational Naoya Inoue Crushes Emmanuel Rodriguez, Nonito Donaire is Next!


PhilBoxing.com





On fire and thrilling fans once again, "The Monster" Naoya Inoue crushed and stopped Puerto Rican world titlist Emmanuel Rodriguez in a fast and explosive round two knockout win to become the unified WBA/IBF Bantamweight World Champion Saturday, May 18, at the SSE Hydro Arena in Glasgow, Scotland.

Naoya Inoue's game excited fans with his quick hands, awesome defensive and attacking moves, and his truly engaging combating mode.

His sensational win over Rodriguez propels Inoue (18-0, 16 KO's) to a great final of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS), where the exciting 26-year-old Japanese will battle veteran Filipino WBA Super Champion Nonito Donaire, 36, in one of the most anticipated bantamweight title matches in recent memory.



Three times Naoya Inoue rocked down his Puerto Rican foe, a former undefeated IBF champ, whom he forced to go through the roughest, most punishing minutes of his life.

The first knockdown was a perfectly-placed left hook thrown by Inoue during a furious exchanged that landed sharp and powerful on the chin of Rodriguez, seating him down roughly in the middle of the ring.

The brave Puerto Rican -- a warrior from the boxing-loving Island that has produced iconic world champions -- found the strength to get on his feet and listen to his count, though it was visible that huge damage has been done... and the round was still young.



Then, a colossal blow to the mid-section impacted the taller Rodriguez (19-1, 12 KO's) airing him out, sending him backwards and down, further prolonging his agony, at which point the Boricuan fighter looked at his corner seemingly trying to say "no mas."

Yet, the fight went on.

Naoya Inoue's brutal demolition job indeed continued, this time with a relentless attack on ropes, near Rodriguez' corner, where the man from Puerto Rico just went down, absolutely beaten up with blood emanating from his nostril.



A fantastic, scintillating victory for Naoya Inoue.

Not only has three-division world champion Naoya Inoue claimed another world title strap, advanced to the great final of the WBSS, and won the enthusiasm of so many more fans, but he has sharply ascended to the planet's P4P list, with many boxing fans already pondering if "The Monster" is as sensational or more than Lomachenko.

While the question lingers, next is "The Monster" Naoya Inoue vs "The Filipino Flash" Nonito Donaire in the great final WBSS later this year, fans wondering who would win.


The author of this column Carlos Costa is a Panama boxing reporter living in the Philippines. Carlos can be reached at carlos512@hotmail.com and by whatsapp/viber/wechat: +639184538152.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • OLYMPIC BOXING 8: 1948 OLYMPICS AT LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM
    By Maloney L. Samaco, , Mon, 26 Jan 2026
  • Golden Gloves Launches on Meta Quest Store, Establishing the First Official Esports Competition Pathway for Amateur Boxing
    , Mon, 26 Jan 2026
  • Andy Cruz vs Raymond Muratalla: Who Will Execute?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Libranza to fight undefeated Tso for IBF Pan Pacific bantam
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Filipino Cue Artist RJ Bautista Ready to Shine at the Las Vegas Open 2026
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • MURATALLA VS. CRUZ WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Xander Zayas vs. Abass Baraou Fight Week Events to Stream LIVE on Top Rank’s Social Media Channels
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Ballesteros not yet ready against Ocum
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Chocolatito Gonzalez to undergo shoulder surgery
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • NM Nika finishes Sixth in Czech Republic Blitz chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • The Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo RETURNS! Saturday May 2, 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV
    , Sat, 24 Jan 2026
  • Donaire back in Cebu
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • MURATALLA VS. CRUZ IN LAS VEGAS FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
    , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • Four Pinoys in line for title shots
    By Joaquin Henson, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • After the meeting in Mexico City, the WBC is ready for 2026
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • Former world title challenger Jerry Belmontes Returns to ring at home after nearly a decade in Retirement on January 31 in Texas
    , Fri, 23 Jan 2026
  • SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT RONNY ALVAREZ TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • STRICKLAND STUNS REYES AS SOUQUET SEALS REDEMPTION | WNT LEGENDS
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Knicks defeats Nets 120-66 to post largest margin of victory in franchise history
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Mauricio Sulaiman: "We simply urge Zuffa Boxing to respect and protect boxing and the boxer"
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • January 31: Xander Zayas-Abass Baraou Junior Middleweight Title Unification Showdown to Stream LIVE on Top Rank Classics FAST Channel in the United States
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • Mike Tyson to Launch “Mike Tyson Invitational,” a Three-Day Amateur Boxing Showcase Aimed at Elevating the Future of American Boxing
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • KAIPO GALLEGOS TRAINING CAMP NOTES
    , Thu, 22 Jan 2026
  • REYES AND BUSTAMANTE DELIVER HOME-SOIL MASTERCLASS | WNT LEGENDS
    , Wed, 21 Jan 2026
  • Reigning World 10-ball Champion Filipino cue master Jonas Magpantay to see action in Indonesia pool tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 21 Jan 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.