No mismatch to show in Saitama
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 08 Nov 2019
Japan’s Naoya Inoue, the Monster, readily swore he needs to get stronger.
This was immediately after he scored an excruciating unanimous decision victory over battle-tested Filipino warrior Nonito Donaire in Saitama, Japan Thursday evening.
Inoue had been installed a 10-1 favorite by several bookmakers, while majority of experts predicted a stoppage inside six rounds.
A full-house crowd came to the capacity 20,000 Saitama Super Arena expecting a spectacular conquest by Inoue. The fight, a compelling contest of skill, power and strategy for the world super bantamweight championship, was listed a strong candidate for fight of the year.
**
Inoue, 26, figured in his toughest fight, his string of knockout wins cut at eight. He now has a record of 19 wins and 16 KOs.
It was a tense and exciting ring war, with the highly favored Japanese suffering a cut over the eye in the second round. The 36-year-old Donaire gave it his all and succeeded in pushing Inoue to the limit.
Inoue was rocked in the 10th, but connected with a well-placed dagger punch to the body that sent Donaire reeling in pain and sinking on a knee in the 11th. That could well be the deciding punch of the memorable bout.
Inoue called Donaire a true champion.
“Powerful veteran Nonito Donaire rocked Inoue and blooded the Japanese star and made him work harder than he had done in any of his first 18 fights,” said Keith Idec of Boxing.Scene.
Dan Rafael of ESPN.Com said Donaire figured in one of his best performances in years despite the defeat.
**
It was a glowing performance by Donaire who proudly upheld Filipino pride in world boxing, following the shameful fall of ranked Romero Duno in Las Vegas last Sunday.
Inoue had hoped to gallop straight to greatness with an expected stoppage of Donaire. The 26-year-old Japanese has vowed to work harder to achieve his dream of becoming the best.
Donaire has visibly firmed up his future enrollment in the Boxing Hall of Fame with his amazing stand against the highly rated Inoue, who took home the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) Muhammad Ali Trophy.
Inoue has been signed up by Top Rank to a multi-fight promotional deal.
“There was Rumble in the Jungle, the Thrilla in Manila, and now the Drama in Saitama,” swooned a top WBSS executive.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
PIONEERING FILIPINO BOXERS TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT ON FIL-AM HISTORY MONTH (PART II)
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 17 Oct 2025California Commission Backs Dana White’s ‘American Boxing Revival’ and Expanded Muhammad Ali Act
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Fri, 17 Oct 2025MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS PRESENTS “COUNTDOWN TO THRILLA IN MANILA” AND “THRILLA IN MANILA 50”
Fri, 17 Oct 2025Rafael Espinoza-Arnold Khegai Featherweight World Title Showdown Set for Nov. 15 in San Luis Potosí, Mexico
Fri, 17 Oct 2025Irish welterweight contender Paddy Donovan Positioned for another World title shot
Fri, 17 Oct 2025DAY ONE: TEAM ASIA LAUNCHES TITLE DEFENCE WITH DOMINANT WHITEWASH AS AJ ‘STARBOY’ MANAS SHINES
Fri, 17 Oct 2025CONNOR MITCHELL SIGNS FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AND DREAMS OF SURPASSING HIS LEGENDARY FATHER
Fri, 17 Oct 2025CONWAY-LIDDARD YORK HALL WEIGH-IN RESULTS
Thu, 16 Oct 2025PR Run - Break Your Record on Oct. 19
By Lito delos Reyes, Thu, 16 Oct 2025PIONEERING FILIPINO BOXERS TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT ON FIL-AM HISTORY MONTH (PART I)
By Dong Secuya, Thu, 16 Oct 2025BOXING HALL OF FAME RELEASES FALL 2025 LETTER OF APPEAL SEEKING FUNDRAISING SUPPORT
Thu, 16 Oct 2025Mendoza bags bronze
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 16 Oct 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 20: MUHAMMAD ALI VS. JOE FRAZIER III ON OCTOBER 1, 1975 AT THE ARANETA COLISEUM
By Maloney L. Samaco, Thu, 16 Oct 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: History of Boxing in Reynosa, Tamaulipas
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Thu, 16 Oct 2025YORK HALL PRESS CONFERENCE: EVERYTHING THAT WAS SAID AS CONWAY AND LIDDARD GET SET FOR HUGE DOMESTIC CLASH
Wed, 15 Oct 2025