SPORTS SHORTS 152: MICHAEL DASMARIÑAS (117.4 LBS.) AND NAOYA INOUE (118 LBS.) ARE READY TO RUMBLE IN LAS VEGAS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 19 Jun 2021
Naoya Inoue is out to make his third defense of his bantamweight titles as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters of the world. Michael Dasmariñas will challenge the Japanese IBF and WBA Super champion as the No. 1 IBF and No. 8 WBA bantamweight contender.
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Both boxers made weight for their scheduled 12-rounder main event Saturday evening at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. Inoue (20-0, 17 KOs) officially weighed in at the 118-pound bantamweight limit. Dasmariñas (30-2-1, 20 KOs) tipped the scales at 117.4 pounds.
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The three-division champ and reigning WBA/IBF bantamweight titlist Inoue in his last outing defeated Australian Jason Moloney by 7th round KO on October 31, 2020 at the MGM Grand Conference Center, Paradise, Nevada for the WBA (Super), IBF and The Ring bantamweight titles.
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This will be the Japanese's second straight Vegas appearance and his third overall match in the United States. He has defeated four Filipinos, including now WBC world bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire by unanimous decision in November 2019.
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Other Filipino opponents were stopped by the "Monster" and they were Warlito Parrenas by 2nd round TKO in 2015, Jerson Mancio by 5th round TKO in 2013, and Crison Omayao 4th round KO in 2012.
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Dasmariñas will be on his first career title fight and likewise on his United States debut. The veteran southpaw from Pili, Camarines Sur has not fought since a so-called stay-busy win against journeyman Artid Bamrungauea of Thailand in October 26, 2019 by a technical knockout in the fifth round in Valenzuela City.
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Before that fight, he won a 12-round unanimous decision over countryman Kenny Demecillo of Iligan City in March 23, 2019 at Resorts World Hotel, Pasay City to become the mandatory challenger to the IBF bantamweight title.
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Michael Dasmariñas said during the final presser, "I did everything I am supposed to do in training, and I am prepared, and I will do whatever it takes to give a good fight to Naoya Inoue."
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"It was a long, hard wait, but patience and perseverance allowed me to get here. I am thankful to everyone that I've been given the chance to fight a great fighter in Naoya Inoue. America has to learn about my very hot and spicy punches!"
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This fight is very important for me because my teammates and I sacrificed a lot in training,” Dasmariñas told Japanese reporters. “This is the biggest fight of my career. I will do my best to win this fight. I wanted to prove my worth in boxing.”
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Naoya Inoue said, "Basically, being undisputed champion means I'm the best in that weight class, the bantamweight division. To prove that, that's why I'm going after all four belts. I feel the expectations, and I want to answer those expectations, and I want to have a performance Saturday night to answer to those expectations."
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"I'm very happy that the nickname 'Monster' comes before Naoya Inoue. I'm very happy and honored, and I've taken it in myself as far as 'Monster' in the United States as my name," added Inoue.
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Top Rank CEO Bob Arum acknowledged that Inoue will be in a tough fight with Dasmariñas. “[The] ‘Monster’ is back in the US and he’s fighting a tough Filipino and I know from experience how tough the Filipino fighters are,” said Arum.
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Naoya Inoue
alias Monster
age 28
record 20-0, 17 KOs
bouts 20
rounds 114
KOs 85%
career 2012-2020
stance orthodox
height 5′ 5″ (165 cm)
reach 67½″ (171 cm)
residence Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
birth place Zama, Kanagawa, Japan
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Michael Dasmariñas
alias Hot 'N Spicy
age 28
record 30-2-1, 20 KOs
bouts 33
rounds 179
KOs 60.61%
career 2012-2019
stance southpaw
height 5′ 7″ (170 cm)
reach 69½″ (176 cm)
residence Bangar, La Union, Philippines
birth place Pili, Camarines Sur, Philippines
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Mikaela Mayer (14-0, 5 KOs) makes the first defense of her WBO junior lightweight title when she faces Argentina’s former two-division champion Erica Farias (26-4, 10 KOs) in their 10-round co-feature. Mayer weighed 129.8 pounds. Farias registered her career lightest 128.2 pounds.
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For the opening the telecast, Adam Lopez (15-2, 6 KOs) weighed 126 pounds on his second attempt for his 10-round regional title fight against former WBO junior featherweight titlist Isaac Dogboe (21-2, 15 KOs), who weighed 125.4 pounds.
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Inoue does not want his two sons to follow him fighting. He says his fans should not expect him to always win by knockout. This following his unanimous yet hard fought victory over Nonito Donaire. He says he wants to fight another eight years.
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After the Donaire fight which saw Inoue's orbital bone fractured and had the Japanese hurting and struggling in some rounds, many fans think that the "Monster" is not invincible after all.
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Philadelphia 76ers salvaged a 104-99 win over the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena. Trae Young topscored with 34 points and 12 assists but the 76ers led by Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris and Seth Curry combined for 70 points and 21 rebounds to keep their playoff hopes still alive. Philadelphia will host Game 7 on Sunday night.
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When the LA Lakers were eliminated from the 2021 NBA playoffs, a 15-year streak came to an end. There would be completely new teams in the NBA Finals. SB Nation tweets: "Since 2006, the NBA Finals have featured either LeBron, the Lakers, or the Warriors. That streak is now over. We're getting a whole new matchup this year."
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The 1960 United States Olympic basketball team is considered by many as the greatest amateur basketball team ever. Coached by Pete Newell, and led by Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, and Jerry Lucas, the US team easily won the gold medal in the Rome Olympics getting 8-0 against the other teams of the world.
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The Americans were so dominant reaching the 100-point mark on five games while limiting their foes to below 60 in four games. Five players averaged double figures in led by Robertson and Lucas at 17 per game. The average margin was more than 40 points, extending America’s winning streak to 36 games in the Games.
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The gold medal game had the USA thumping Brazil, 90-63, and won the fifth gold medal for the Americans since basketball was included in the Olympic program in 1936. The 1960 roster included ten future NBA players with four consecutive Rookie of the Year honorees and three members of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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