The Monster vs the Filipino Flash – who wins the rematch?
So what happens when you get the top two 118lbs fighters in the world and put them in the ring together? You get a Ring Magazine Fight of the Year winner (2019) complete with blood, cuts, knockdowns, fractured bones, broken noses, heart, endurance, and thrilling drama from the first bell to the last.
31 months later and the world will be treated to the rematch.
Introductions
The ‘Filipino Flash’ is already a guaranteed Hall of Famer having won world titles in four different weight categories. Something that Inoue is aspiring to, having already become a three-weight world champion in just his 16th contest against Briton Jamie McDonnell.
When this pair first met in November 2019, Donaire was WBA ‘Super’ World bantamweight champion and Inoue was the IBF holder, and the latter won by unanimous decision scores of 111-116, 109-117, 113-114.
But since then the stakes have risen even further, as Donaire got back into the ring just six months later to obliterate unbeaten Frenchman Nordine Oubaali by decking him three times until the fight was stopped in the fourth round, taking the green and gold WBC bantamweight belt away from the champion, which he puts up against Inoue, who still has his red IBF title, along with the black and gold WBA strap that he took from Donaire over two and half years ago.
Donaire has made history since the first fight by becoming the oldest bantamweight world champion in boxing history. There’s other records too, he holds the distinction of being the first three-time champion in that weight class, as well as being one of only six boxers to ever hold world championships across three decades, joining the likes of Evander Holyfield; Manny Pacquiao; Bernard Hopkins; Erik Morales; Floyd Mayweather.
The First Fight
It was the World Boxing Super Series Final and the anticipation couldn’t be higher. Inoue was looking invincible coming into the contest, and was understandably the favourite to win, but a few faithful fans believed Donaire still had something to offer… and he really did!
The two traded even blows in the first half of the fight, Donaire inflicting a serious cut above Inoue’s eye as early as round two, which affected his vision, but he bravely fought back to come close to stopping Donaire at the end of round five, after trapping him on the ropes, but the wily veteran made it to the bell.
After that, Donaire began to hurt the opponent, who was 10 years his junior, more frequently in the second half of the contest, from around the eighth onwards where he bloodied the Japanese man’s face badly, and particularly in the ninth where he landed a thunderous right hand to the ‘Monster’s’ chin, which forced him to hold on for dear life.
In the 11th round, Inoue whipped in a left hook to the liver to down Donaire, who made it back to his feet again for a climatic finish to the fantastic fight. They battled it out, throwing powerful shots each, both looking for a big finish.
Inoue finished the fight stronger to win by unanimous decision, but it cost him a fractured orbital bone, lacerated eye, and a broken nose.
Preview
In their first epic encounter, the younger man landed 39.7% of his punches, marginally more than Donaire’s 35.9%. Even though Inoue only threw 23 punches more than Donaire (628-605), he outlanded the senior man by 227 to 141, so his accuracy was the difference. The Japanese sharpshooter was able to land well over double the jabs than The Filipino (111-42).
Since then, they have both won consecutive world title fights, both of Donaire’s ending in fourth-round KOs against two undefeated fighters, and Inoue has recorded a KO7, followed by a KO3, culminating in a TKO8; all three bouts fairly one-sided before ethe finish.
Amateur Record
Naoya reportedly took has amateur record to an impressive 75-6, taking part in the 2011 Baku World Championships.
Donaire’s record was similar at 68-8, but managed to win a few more trophies. He won three U.S. National Championships a Silver Gloves tournament; a National Junior Olympics; an International Junior Olympics.
Stats
Inoue
Bouts: 22
Rounds: 125
Wins: 22
Losses: 0
Draws: 0
KOs: 19
KO Ratio: 86.36%
Height: 5ft 5in
Reach: 67 ½in
Age: 29
Stance: Orthodox
Trainer: Shingo Inoue
Donaire
Bouts: 48
Rounds: 297
Wins: 42
Losses: 6
Draws: 0
KOs: 28
KO Ratio: 58.33%
Height: 5ft 7in
Reach: 68 ½in
Age: 39
Stance: Orthodox
Trainer: Kenny Adams
World Rankings
Inoue: WBA and IBF World Champion / TBRB #1 / Ring Magazine Champion / BoxRec #1
Donaire: WBC World Champion / TBRB #2 / Ring #1 / BoxRec #2
Betting Odds
Inoue is the favourite once again at 1/5 with Betway, while the senior man, Donaire, is back in the underdog position once more at 7/2, and the odds for a draw currently placed quite low at 18/1.
Prediction
Inoue was forced to respect Donaire’s power very early on and was hindered by that cut eye all night long. This time, I think he will be very wary and extra careful to avoid the same fate, especially in the first few rounds. On the other side of that coin, Inoue knows what punch will inflict damage and will be looking to whip in that body shot again during the rematch.
Undefeated Inoue has everything to lose but Donaire doesn’t carry that same weight upon his shoulders. Approaching 40, in his 49th fight and 31st championship contest, ‘The Filipino Flash’ will likely be the more relaxed, with Inoue confident as an undefeated champion but also desperate not to slip up.
I believe that Inoue will win again, either on points or by stoppage. I expect his punch output to be higher than his counterpart’s again, and I’ve got this sneaky feeling that he could fatigue Donaire with that greater energy by round 10.