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Philippines, 27 Feb 2026 |
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MASAM SPORTS 47: NONITO DONAIRE- NAOYA INOUE WILL HAPPEN IF JAPAN EASES RESTRICTIONS SAYS BOB ARUM By Maloney L. Samaco PhilBoxing.com Wed, 02 Mar 2022  WBC bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire might fight again in a rematch against WBA and IBF champion Japanese arch rival Naoya Inoue and it could possibly happen in the spring season. “It’s almost there. I’m excited for it,” said Donaire as told to Fight Hub TV. Donaire will depend on the decision of his promoter Richard Schaefer, CEO of Probellum. “That thing is that it’s Richard’s call. I had a lot of options. All I know is I’m waiting for it, I’m training for it,” added the 39-year-old "Filipino Flash". The four-weight world champion has been training consistently as the fight maybe called anytime soon. "I’m always training for whatever happens. Well, we’re looking at around April, May, or June. So I’m already training for all those dates.” Inoue (22-0, 19 KOs) and Donaire (42-6, 28 KOs) clashed on November 7, 2019 at the Super Arena in Saitama, Japan in the World Boxing Super Series bantamweight finals, as Inoue has the hometown advantage and scored a well-fought unanimous decision win with the scores of 116-111, 114-113 and 117-109. Donaire suffered a knockdown in the exciting fight, and Inoue fought with a broken right eye socket in the brutal tussle which was adjudged as Fight of the Year 2019 by the Boxing Writers Association of America. Donaire's excellent achievement is becoming the oldest world bantamweight champion after knocking out French boxer Nordine Oubaali in four rounds last May 29 to seize the WBC title belt. He successfully defended his WBC bantamweight title last December 12 against compatriot Reymart Gaballo, who is 14 years younger, and idolized him so much. He gave the challenger his first career loss after four rounds via knockout. According to Inoue co-promoter Bob Arum, "A bureaucratic measure or two apparently is all that stands in the way of the rematch between Naoya Inoue and Nonito Donaire." The Top Rank CEO said he believes a return bout of the two champions' well-applauded title match is on the verge of being a done deal. Boxing Scene reported in January that negotiations had started between the camps of Inoue and Donaire. The only major obstacle preventing it to happen, Arum said, is the Japanese government’s strict border control restrictions in due to the occurrence of the coronavirus Omicron variant. Japan eased their restrictions last year but tightened them again in November thereby preventing all foreigners to enter their country because of the rising COVID-19 cases. Arum said all the parties which include Donaire's promoter Richard Schaefer of Probellum and Inoue who is handled by Arum and his Japanese backers Hideyuki Ohashi and Akihiko Honda have already agreed to the rematch. They are just waiting for the go-signal from the Japanese government. “I think that’s really close,” Arum was quoted by 3 Knockdown Rule. “Everything depends not on Donaire, not on Inoue, not Ohashi or Honda, but on the Japanese government lifting the restrictions on events and so forth.” The middleweight unification fight between IBF champion Gennadiy Golovkin and WBA titlist Ryota Murata was originally scheduled for December in Tokyo. But because of the increase in Covid cases and strict government control, the fight is reportedly rescheduled for April. Recent developments from Japan reported that the country will start to relax its restrictions starting March. “From what we understand, April we’ll be in all clear,” Arum said. “The world is opening up.” “This is definitely a fight we would love to do and Nonito would love to have it as well. We don’t have a problem going to Japan. Donaire has the balls to go into the lion's den again. This is one of the biggest fights you can make in the sport,” disclosed Schaefer. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.  |
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