Mobile Home | Desktop Version




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:

  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
    By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
    By Carlos Costa, Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
    Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
    Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
    Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
    Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
    By Carlos Costa, Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
    Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
    Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
    Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • 4 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
    Thu, 10 Jul 2025