NONITO DONAIRE JR. could get his personally sought after rematch with Japanese Naoya Inoue in March next year after proving over the weekend that age’s just a number and his two fists pack numerous wonders rarely seen from a 39-year-old fighter.
“Of course why not? It’s absolutely going to be a great duel between both fighters,” Top Rank head Bob Arum told BusinessMirror over the phone from Las Vegas, Nevada, on Wednesday. “The last time Inoue and Donaire fought was really great.”
Donaire Jr. (42-6 win-loss record with 28 knockouts) lost to the still undefeated Inoue last November 2019 via unanimous decision in Saitama, Japan. Although the orthodox boxer from Talibon, Bohol, lost, he fractured Inoue’s right eye socket (orbital bone) during the hard-fought battle.
Donaire is coming off a four-round knockout victory over compatriot Reymart Gaballo last Sunday in Carson City to retain his World Boxing Council (WBC) bantamweight belt.
He immediately called out Inoue, who retained his International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association bantamweight titles after Beating Thailand’s Aran Dipaen via eighth-round technical knockout win in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Arum, who turned 90 last December 8, was amazed by Donaire’s skills despite approaching 40.
“It’s terrific, it’s amazing that he refuses to get old, he keeps going,” said Arum, who added that a Donaire-Inoue fight could be in March in Japan.
“A rematch with Donaire in Japan is absolutely a big, big fight,” he said.
World Boxing Organization bantamweight champion Johnriel Casimero, Arum said, however, could stand in the way of Donaire’s wish to take on the Japanese a second time.
Donaire beat Frenchman Nordine Oubaali via fourth-round TKO win last May 29 also in Carson City to become the oldest bantamweight world champion.
