Donaire underdog in Japan duel
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 06 Nov 2019
The odds are against super WBA bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire, Jr. to beat regular WBA and IBF unified titleholder Naoya Inoue in their World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) final showdown at the Saitama Super Arena tomorrow but the Filipino Flash is confident of scoring an upset before an expected crowd of over 20,000 in Japan’s biggest fight since Yoshio Shirai beat Dado Marino for the world flyweight crown in front of 45,000 fans at the Korakuen Stadium in 1952.
The betting line shows that a $1,000 bet on Inoue will only earn $100 while a $100 wager on Donaire will cash in $600. The bout has been sold out for over a month as Inoue, known as The Monster, will try to solidify his claim as Japan’s best pound-for-pound fighter today with a win over Donaire.
“It’s the biggest fight in Japanese history in over 50 years,” said Donaire who trained two weeks in Alabang before landing in Japan last Wednesday. “I’m excited. It’s certainly one of the biggest fights in my career." The largest crowd ever to witness a Donaire fight was 30,000 at the open-air Cebu City Sports Complex in 2016 when the five-division world champion stopped Zsolt Bedak in the third round. The Saitama Super Arena is the world's fourth largest indoor stadium with a capacity of 36,500 but is configured for up to 22,500 for boxing.
There is a 10-year age gap between Donaire and Inoue but former IBF superfeatherweight ruler and now highly-regarded boxing trainer Robert Garcia said it’s not a factor. Donaire is 36 and Inoue, 26. “I give Nonito a chance to win even if the odds don’t favor him,” Garcia told The Star in Los Angeles last weekend. “Once he lands his left hook, it’s lights out. I think Nonito is most dangerous at 118. When he was at 126, he didn’t need to lose weight, he didn’t need to train hard. At 118, he’s at his best and he’s very experienced. Inoue hasn’t been tested. But don’t get me wrong. Inoue’s the real deal, he’s heavy-handed with a big punch. As a bantamweight, Nonito is very, very good and it won’t be an easy fight for either guy.”
Japanese well-traveled boxing photographer Sumio Yamada said “anything can happen” in the fight since the protagonists are both hard hitters. “One good shot from either fighter will end it,” he said. Yamada was in Los Angeles last Saturday and left for Japan the next day to make sure he'll be at ringside in Saitama.
The consensus is the fight won’t go the distance even as Inoue recently said he’s prepared to take it to 12 rounds. Donaire said he has the perfect fight plan for Inoue but declined to reveal details. It’s possible that Donaire will counter and box from a distance in the early rounds to avoid a head-on collision then go for the kill in the late going.
“I will give everything I have to win and I believe I can do it,” said Donaire whose record is 40-5, with 26 KOs compared to Inoue’s 18-0, with 16 KOs. “It has been predicted that the keys to the fight are speed and power and the one who makes a mistake first will lose. On the other hand, we both have boxing brains so it can be a long game like chess.”
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Simona Winkler, Salim Ellis-Bey and Noelle Haro Advance to Medal Rounds At 2026 World Boxing Cup – Stage 1
Sun, 26 Apr 2026Sanman 100 Official Weigh-In Results from General Santos
Sat, 25 Apr 2026Subkhankulov stops Usmonov, Agrba wins hard test, and Aminova claims WBA Asia title at IBA.PRO 17 in Ufa
Sat, 25 Apr 2026Pero vs Miller: Heavies Collide in Prove it fight on DAZN
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 25 Apr 2026Subkhankulov Stops Usmonov in Russia, Claims IBF No. 2 Spot at Lightweight
Sat, 25 Apr 2026Yeow Ming to fight in Bangkok for ABF title
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 25 Apr 2026MILLER VS. PERO - WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER AHEAD OF TOMORROW NIGHT’S ACTION
Sat, 25 Apr 2026IBA Pro Champions Night to feature world champions in Saint Petersburg
Sat, 25 Apr 2026Noelle Haro and Marie Rosendo Advance to Quarterfinals with Wins on Day Four of 2026 World Boxing Cup – Stage 1
Sat, 25 Apr 2026Bautista to face Dulayba at Okada on April 30
By Lito delos Reyes, Sat, 25 Apr 2026LAS VEGAS FIGHT WEEK: PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES AS MILLER AND PERO COLLIDE IN WBA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE ELIMINATOR – LIVE ON DAZN
Fri, 24 Apr 2026Undefeated Knockout Artist Amari “The Reaper” Jones Headlines First-Ever DAZN Card Against Former World Champion Vincenzo “Il Capo” Gualtieri
Fri, 24 Apr 2026Mexican female stars Mayelli Flores and Irma ¨Torbellino¨ Garcia sign with MVP
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 24 Apr 2026Basil to fight Britanico on April 26 in Delpan
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 24 Apr 2026Race briefing of Mt. Apo Boulder Face on April 24
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 24 Apr 2026