SPORTS SHORTS 27: MICHAEL DASMARIÑAS' FIGHT WITH NAOYA INOUE IS NOW UNDER NEGOTIATION
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 17 Jan 2021
Asian Boxing reports that IBF/WBA bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue has a planned opponent and time frame for his first bout of 2020. According to his promoters “The Monster” will have a "homecoming match" against IBF mandatory Michael Dasmariñas, which Sankei Sports reports will happen “after the spring.” A scheduled purse bid hearing to determine promotional rights was canceled after the two sides reached an agreement, per Boxing Scene.
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Dasmariñas (30-2-1, 20 KOs) impressively scored a killer one-punch 4th-round knockout of Karim Guerfi of Manosque, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France in April 20, 2018. He became the top contender with a unanimous decision win over Kenny Demecillo of Iligan City, Lanao del Norte on March 23, 2019. He won by a fifth-round TKO of Artid Bamrungauea of Si Sa Ket, Thailand on October 26, 2019.
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After Dasmariñas' latest victory and Inoue’s (20-0, 17 KOs) ferocious encounter with Nonito Donaire in the WBSS finals, the IBF mandated the two fighters to a match. Inoue has a KO rate of 85% in 20 bouts and 114 rounds, per BoxRec. He is ranked as the world's best active bantamweight by BoxRec and the world's second best active boxer pound for pound by the The Ring and fourth by ESPN. Inoue who stands 5′ 5″ (165cm), age 27 years, is from Zama, Kanagawa, Japan.
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Dasmariñas in 33 bouts and 179 rounds has a 60.61% KO rate. Nicknamed "Hot and Spicy", he boxes with a height of 5′ 7″ (170cm). The 28-year-old southpaw was born in Pili, Camarines Sur. Dasmariñas will have the chance of joining the roster of current Filipino world champions, which include Manny Pacquiao, Johnriel Casimero, Jerwin Ancajas, and Pedro Taduran.
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MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons has engaged in negotiations with Inoue's camp, Bob Arum of Top Rank and Akihiko Honda of Teiken Promotions, for a title fight either in March or April. Of course Dasmariñas will be the underdog against the unbeaten Inoue. But even as the fight with Inoue has yet to be scheduled, Dasmariñas is already training in Bangar, La Union, keeping himself ready if Gibbons gets the confirmation from the Team Inoue.
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Bob Arum said WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury will not face Deontay Wilder for a third time. In February 22, 2020, Fury knocked out Wilder in the 7th round to win the WBC title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. They fought to a controversial twelve round split draw in December 1, 2018, 115–111 for Wilder, 114–112 for Fury and 113–113 even. After the rematch, Wilder wanted to exercise an immediate rematch clause. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the third fight was postponed several times.
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Last fall, Fury and his handlers are convinced that Wilder's rematch clause had expired. Wilder filed a legal action to impose his rematch clause. The two sides took part in a mediation. But Arum warns that Fury is not interested in facing Wilder regardless of the decision of the mediator. Fury has been deeply offended by Wilder's accusation of Fury loading his gloves during the rematch. Wilder also alleged that his drinking water may have been contaminated and even alleged that his former co-trainer Mark Breland was ostensibly a double-agent favoring his foe.
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“There’s no mediation. I mean, there has been over Christmas, and New Year, there was mediation. I don’t know, maybe the mediator will be able to solve the situation, but we got a real problem because Tyson Fury has said to me and the mediator, ‘Not today, not tomorrow, and not ever’ will he ever fight Wilder after what Wilder said to him," Arum told Barbershop Conversations. “He [Fury] regards is not only as a slur against him but against the Gypsy nation.” Fury's camp are negotiating a two-fight series with WBO, IBF, WBA, IBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
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According to 2018 NBA MVP James Harden, "it's all a flow." in some nights, he said in his introductory press conference in the Brooklyn Nets on Friday, "I might be a facilitator, " as quoted by CBS Sports. Other nights, he might score higher. Kyrie Irving or Kevin Durant "might score 10 possessions in a row," he said, "and I'm fine with that because we're going to be winning and it's going to be good." He added that he and his Nets co-stars are ready to sacrifice. "As long as I'm making my teammates better, it doesn't matter about the points," Harden said. "I think everybody knows that I can score at a high clip, and that's where the sacrifice comes in at."
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James Harden NBA career highlights and awards:
NBA Most Valuable Player in 2018
8× NBA All-Star in 2013–2020
6× All-NBA First Team in 2014, 2015, 2017–2020
All-NBA Third Team in 2013
NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2012
3× NBA scoring champion in 2018–2020
NBA assists leader in 2017
NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2010
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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