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:
Polkinghorn, Pagara at the Scales in Perth, Australia
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 07 Mar 2026Young Briton Rising Star: Callum Dan's Quest for Boxing Glory
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 07 Mar 2026Chua rules Pattaya Open; pockets $22,500
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 07 Mar 2026All Star Boxing live on ESPN DEPORTES Weights from Nicaragua
Fri, 06 Mar 2026Ryan Rozicki’s Return: Presser Quotes from Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada
Fri, 06 Mar 2026Undefeated Heavyweight Gustavo “The Cuban Assassin” Trujillo Returns to Headline “Havoc at the Hilton 3” March 7 in Florida
Fri, 06 Mar 2026AQ Prime Chess bet Marius Zabanal Constante of Pasig City rules Elementary Division of NCR Palarong Pambansa Standard chess elims
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 06 Mar 2026World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Battles Mexican Strongman Manuel Gallegos
Fri, 06 Mar 2026USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Travels to Thailand for 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
Fri, 06 Mar 2026Eddie Hearn Signs UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall for New Matchroom Talent Agency
Fri, 06 Mar 2026Wise Owl Boxing Signs Undefeated Super Welterweight Prospect Ebenezer “The Stuntman” Griffith
Fri, 06 Mar 2026International Boxing Association Strengthens Strategic Presence in Cape Verde Following High-Level Official Visit
Thu, 05 Mar 2026Asia's First GM Eugene Torre 2nd in Russia chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 05 Mar 2026Unified WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine Minimumweight World Champion Oscar "El Pupilo" Collazo Hosts Media Workout Ahead of March 14 Fight
Thu, 05 Mar 20262026 USA Boxing Men's Youth High Performance Team Announced
Thu, 05 Mar 2026