DONAIRE ARRIVES IN JAPAN
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 24 May 2022
WBC bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire Jnr of the Philippines has arrived in Japan Tuesday ahead of his mouth-watering rematch with WBA/IBF champion Naoya Inoue on June 7 at the Super Arena in Saitama, Japan, the same venue where the two stars engaged in an unforgettable combat on Nov. 7, 2019 for the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) finale that later was voted as 2019 fight of the year.
The undefeated Inoue (22-0, 19KOs) has since fought Jason Moloney of Australia, Michael Dasmarinas of the Philippines and Aran Dipaen of Thailand to keep his belts. Donaire (46-6-0, 28KOs) meanwhile captured the WBC title from Frenchman Nordine Oubaali on May 29, 2021 and later defended it successfully against compatriot Reymart Gaballo last December.
The call for the rematch was loud and just natural for the two protagonists as their first fight was a barn burner where Inoue was stretched to his limits and was rocked by Donaire several times during the fight and specially in the 9th canto where the Japanese almost went down. Inoue dug deep and scored a knockdown in the 11th round with a wicked shot to the liver that sent Donaire grimacing in pain in the canvas. Inoue sustained a cut on his right eye brow early in the fight and was later diagnosed with fractures on his eye socket.
Inoue who at 29 years is still in his prime, will be facing a 39-year-old rival in Donaire who has yet to show signs that father time has caught up with him with two stunning knockout victories in his last two fights.
Donaire has come to Japan to prove a point. “If Naoya thinks, Donaire is same as in our first encounter, that’s wrong. I’m quite different as I can punch him from any angle in any position now. My skills and motivation have improved a lot. You’ll see,” Donaire told Fight News upon his arrival.
Let's circle the date - June 7 - and expect to see another classic of a fight between these two great fighters of our era.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Technological evolution or revolution?
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 03 Sep 2025Result or Matias-Smith WBC super lightweight title match purse bid
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 03 Sep 2025Vicelles fights in Japan on Sept. 7
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 03 Sep 2025Yoelvis Gomez Speaks After Winning the WBA Continental Latin America Title
Wed, 03 Sep 2025Connor Coyle sets the record straight ‘Clean from Day One. Never cheated, never will’
Wed, 03 Sep 2025Requito stops Bambam in 3rd round
By Lito delos Reyes, Wed, 03 Sep 2025Villarosa draws with Labajo, Enano wins
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 02 Sep 2025Suarez, Magsayo Reliving High Point in PH Boxing at Super Featherweights
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Tue, 02 Sep 2025Pacman back into full-time boxing
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 02 Sep 2025Unbeaten Laurente Dominates Marapu to Capture IBF Pan-Pacific Lightweight Crown; Gaballo Wins in Co-Main Event
Tue, 02 Sep 2025Thunderdome 51 Review: Perth’s Joel Lewis claims title with stunning knockout
Tue, 02 Sep 2025Paulette Cuesta and Susy Kandy Sandoval Set for Highly Anticipated Rematch in Tijuana
Tue, 02 Sep 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 31 August 2025
By Eric Armit, Mon, 01 Sep 2025Gaballo, Laurente prevail in Gensan
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 01 Sep 2025Paalam leads ABAP team in Liverpool
By Joaquin Henson, Mon, 01 Sep 2025