Donaire now in camp for Inoue
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 14 Jul 2019
Nonito Donaire, Jr. is staying fit in the gym even as the date and site for his World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) final showdown with Japan?s Naoya Inoue are still undetermined. It appears that the world bantamweight championship fight will be held sometime in the fall, the season between summer and winter, so September, October and November are options.
Donaire?s wife Rachel said the Filipino Flash has been dutifully working out for the duel against the man called ?The Monster.? ?Jun has been in camp,? she said the other day. ?We?re waiting for confirmation from Richard (Schaefer) when and where the fight will be held.? Schaefer, who promotes Donaire, is Ringstar Sports CEO and the WBSS co-founder. No matter when and where, Donaire will be ready for Inoue.
Donaire, 36, holds the ?super? WBA/WBC diamond bantamweight crowns while Inoue is the ?regular? WBA/IBF unified champion. They both hurdled two opponents on the way to booking their WBSS final fight for the Muhammad Ali Trophy.
Last May, Inoue showed up at the IBF Convention in Macau and IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas? trainer Joven Jimenez sized him up. ?Magandang laban nila ni Donaire,? said Jimenez who attended the gathering with Ancajas and MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons. ??Mukhang matibay si Inoue.? The problem was Inoue didn?t talk much. ?Hindi siya nagsalita,? said Jimenez. ?Wala siyang interpreter na dala.?
Inoue, 26, lets his fists do the talking. He?s unbeaten with an 18-0 record, including 16 KOs. His last three fights took only 441 total seconds as Inoue demolished the UK?s Jamie McDonnell in 1:52, the Dominican Republic?s Juan Carlos Payano in 1:10 and Puerto Rico?s Emmanuel Rodriguez in 1:19 of the second round. The three victims entered the ring with a combined record of 68-3-1 so they were no patsies.
Of Inoue?s 18 bouts, 13 were for the world title. He won the WBC lightflyweight belt in his sixth fight and later annexed the WBO superflyweight crown. Donaire is a lot more experienced with a record of 40-5, including 26 KOs. He has held the IBF/IBO flyweight, interim WBA superflyweight, WBC/WBO bantamweight, WBO superbantamweight and WBA featherweight titles and now owns the ?super? WBA bantamweight crown. Donaire has figured in over 20 world championship fights.
Former two-time world titlist Gerry Penalosa said two factors going for Donaire are his experience and the high quality of his opposition. ?Inoue is young, hungry but untested,? said Penalosa. ?If Donaire is 100 percent in condition, it?s 60-40 he?ll win. If he?s 80 or even 90 percent, baka alanganin. If both fighters are 100 percent, it?ll be 50-50.?
Penalosa said if Donaire lands his left hook, it will be lights out for Inoue. ?Donaire is very talented but Inoue has power, too,? he said. ?The one who connects the knockout punch first will be the winner. Donaire has fought several world champions so that experience will go a long way. I think Donaire?s corner will be prepared with Kenny Adams and his father Dodong. I?m looking forward to a great fight.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
ALA keeps on punchin’
By Joaquin Henson, Fri, 19 Apr 2024Biggest Gainers, Losers in the East
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 19 Apr 2024WBC Presents "Tamaulipas" Belt to Canelo-Munguia on May 4
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 19 Apr 2024Ronny Rios Fighting For Final Chapter In Boxing Career
Fri, 19 Apr 2024DEVIN HANEY VS. RYAN GARCIA FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 19 Apr 2024Filipino cue master Richard Alinsub wins Bali International 9-Ball Open, pockets P350,000
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 19 Apr 2024Suarez closer to title shot
By Joaquin Henson, Fri, 19 Apr 2024World Title Challenger Brandon Adams Weighs in for OTX Junior Middleweight Tournament with Ismael Villareal
Fri, 19 Apr 2024Bangkok Chess Open: Three Pinoys Still in Contention as Arca Loses Again
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 19 Apr 2024HALL OF FAMER JULIAN “THE HAWK” JACKSON RETURNING TO CANASTOTA FOR 2024 HALL OF FAME WEEKEN
Fri, 19 Apr 20242 Division World Champion Oscar Valdez Confirmed for Seventh Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 4, in Las Vegas
Fri, 19 Apr 2024Former interim world bantamweight champion Reymart Gaballo is eagerly anticipating his upcoming fight against Mexican boxer Kenbun Torres on May 10 at the Midas Hotel and Casino in Manila.
Thu, 18 Apr 2024Lim is top seed in 1st Daneea Balabaran Sinsuat Tennis Championship at Toril
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 18 Apr 2024Cagayan ready to host PCAP Champions League
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 18 Apr 2024Tsutsumi KOs former WBA super champion "Chemito" Moreno in Japan (Video)
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Thu, 18 Apr 2024