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Home > Match Information > ‘Monster’ Inoue crushes Donaire in 2, adds WBC bantamweight title

‘Monster’ Inoue crushes Donaire in 2, adds WBC bantamweight title

Jun 08, 2022 9:26 am

World Boxing Association ‘’super’’ and International Boxing Federation bantamweight champion Naoya ‘’The Monster’’ Inoue of Ohashi Boxing Gym, landing his favorite left hooks from various angles, stopped World Boxing Council bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire of the Philippines in the second round in their title unification fight at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama Prefecture on June 7.

The technical knockout of the scheduled 12-rounder came 1 minute and 24 seconds into the round when Inoue landed a short but strong left hook to the head of his 39-year-old opponent, sending the Filipino down near the ropes. Canadian referee Michael Griffin waved off the lopsided bout. Inoue also decked

Donaire with a straight right immediately before the end of the first round.
With the victory, the 29-year-old Inoue now has the three of the four bantamweight titles of the world’s major sanctioning bodies.

It was their second encounter since they fought in November 2019 in the final of the World Boxing Super Series at the same arena, in which Inoue won with a unanimous decision in a hard-fought battle.

After the fight, Inoue said, ‘’When I watched a video of the first-round knockdown during a minute interval between rounds, I made up my mind that I would knock him out in the next (second) round. But thanks to Mr. Donaire, I was able to shine at the bantamweight division. I will give thanks to Mr. Donaire for making me what I am now. If I can have the final title unification fight (with World Boxing Organization champion Paul Butler of Britain) within this year, I will remain at the bantamweight. But if that seems impossible, I hope I will move up in weight to super bantamweight to seek a new stage.’’

Right after the opening bell, Donaire threw a sharp left hook, which made Inoue a little bit cautious. When the tension-filled first round neared the end, Inoue landed a devastating straight right to the head, sending Donaire to the canvas for a mandatory eight count.

Upon entering the second round, Inoue continued to land left hooks and straight rights to the damaged Donaire, which led Inoue to throw the game-ending left hook.

With the victory, Inoue improved his unbeaten streak to 23 wins, including20 KOs. For his part, Donaire fell to a 42-7 win-loss tally with 28 KOs.

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