World Boxing Association ‘’super’’ and International Boxing Federation bantamweight champion Naoya ‘’Monster’’ Inoue of Ohashi Boxing Gym told a press conference at the gym in Yokohama, ‘’I will convincingly win my coming fight to set the stage for the next title unification fight.’’

Holding the conference online together with the gym’s head Hideyuki Ohashi and trainer Shingo Inoue, Naoya’a father, the 28-year-old Inoue said he is determined to defend the IBF title by beating No. 1-ranked Michael Dasmarinas of the Philippines at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 19 (June 20 Japan time).

Since Dasmarinas, 28, is a southpaw, Inoue has been tackling how to deal with a left-handed opponent for a considerable time and said, ‘’It will be the first time for me to face a southpaw opponent of this tall (170 cm). But I don’t have an aversion to a southpaw. I can hit where I want to hit. I can respond accurately to my foe’s movement. Both Ohashi and Shingo agreed to the champion’s opinion.

‘’My impression of him is he is a kind of boxer who moves a lot.’’ The designated challenger has 30 wins, including 20 KOs, against two losses and a draw. Inoue hinted that he is careful about his opponent’s tendency of shaking his head while throwing punching (butting). Inoue has 20 straight wins, including 17 KOs.

Inoue’s experience of having knocked out then top-ranked World Boxing Organization bantamweight Jason Moloney of Australia last fall in Las Vegas has a lot to do his confidence.

‘’True Dasmarinas has a punching power. But he has unguarded moment more so than Moloney. In that sense, I will have more chances to knock him out more easily, ‘’ Inoue said, adding, ‘’I want to return home by winning heats and minds of local fans.’’

Unlike the Inoue-Moloney fight, which was held behind closed doors, the coming scheduled 12-rounder is expected to be held before spectators.

In this connection, Ohashi said, ‘’If Inoue come through with the coming fight in an impressive fashion, his evaluation will further improve. Inoue can then fight the winner of World Boxing Council champion Nordine Oubaali of France and Nonito Donaire of the Philippines. Either that, or the winner of WBO kingpin John Riel Casimero of the Philippines and WBA champion Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba. The coming fight will there be a stepping stone to a dream fight.’’

According to the gym’s plan, Inoue will wind up his sparring sessions within, and the team Inoue is expected to enter the U.S. 10 days before the fight. Inoue will only engage himself fully in adjusting his conditions and controlling weight after adjusting to a time zone change.

‘’I hope I can enter Las Vegas to keep my present condition unchanged,’’ Inoue said.　Photo by Ohashi Boxing Gym