Naoya Inoue obliterates Nonito Donaire to unify bantamweight division
- Joe Hewlett
- 7 June 2022
The Japanese star lived up to his nickname of 'Monster' to add the WBC title to his WBA, IBF and Ring Magazine titles.
The first fight between the pair may have been a Fight of the Year contender but there was no contest in the rematch.
Naoya Inoue lived up to his tag as one of the biggest pound-for-pound punchers in boxing by destroying Nonito Donaire inside two rounds.
Donaire was saved by the bell in the opening round after getting dropped by a thunderous right hand. However, there was no saving the Filipino in the second as Inoue continued his dominance before dropping his opponent with a right-hand left hook combo.
Inoue is bantamweight's unified world champion and holds three of the four major world titles.
The only belt to elude him is the WBO title which belongs to England's Paul Butler.
"Two years and seven months ago I fought Nonito Donaire at the WBSS final and came back here at the same venue. You give me the power, thank you," said Inoue after the fight.
"At the very first round, I received a left hook from Nonito and that punch made me wake up and I just had to stay focused for the rest of the fight.
The last right straight - I didn't know it was a right one but during the intermission, I saw the video and knew this was going to be the one (that knocked Donaire out).
"This is magic for myself too - I put pressure on myself and did it.
"Two years and seven months later he (Donaire) won the WBC belt and came back to fight me. Thank you so much Nonito for everything," added Inoue.
