6/7 ESPN+: Naoya Monster Inoue vs Nonito Donaire 2 (WBA/WBC/IBF Bantamweight Titles)
- Thread starter patscorpio
- Start date
such a fukking classic the first fight was
Streaming coverage begins at 5 a.m. ET/2 a.m. PT
(May 17, 2022) — WBA/IBF bantamweight world champion Naoya “Monster” Inoue is 17-0 in world title fights and only once has been pushed to the brink.
WBC bantamweight world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire, the four-weight kingpin whose late-career renaissance cemented his status as one of boxing’s greatest lighter weight champions, has one more shot to stun the Japanese pound-for-pound icon.
Inoue and Donaire will meet in a title unification rematch Tuesday, June 7, at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Inoue and Donaire first fought in November 2019 at Saitama Super Arena, with Inoue overcoming a broken orbital bone and nose to win a unanimous decision in the consensus Fight of the Year.
Inoue-Donaire 2 and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 5 a.m. ET/2 a.m. PT.
“Naoya Inoue and Nonito Donaire’s first fight is among the greatest championship battles I’ve ever seen, and I am thrilled that American fight fans can watch the rematch on ESPN+,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.
Inoue (22-0, 19 KOs), a three-weight world champion, won the WBC light flyweight title in April 2014 and ascended to pound-for-pound prominence with dominant runs at junior bantamweight and bantamweight. At one point, Inoue had a championship streak of seven consecutive knockouts against fighters who had never been stopped before. He joined the bantamweight ranks in May 2018 with a devastating first-round stoppage over Jamie McDonnell. One year later, he knocked out Emmanuel Rodriguez in two rounds to win the IBF world title. Since unifying the IBF and WBA belts versus Donaire, Inoue has knocked out Jason Moloney, Michael Dasmariñas, and Aran Dipaen.
Donaire (42-6, 28 KOs), a 39-year-old future Hall of Famer who won his first world title at flyweight in 2007, has experienced a career rebirth since moving down from featherweight following a decision defeat to Carl Frampton in 2018. He earned stoppage wins over Ryan Burnett and Stephon Young in his first two bantamweight contests before stepping up to face Inoue. Donaire before showed no ill effects from the 12-round shootout with Inoue, returning last May to upset Nordine Oubaali via fourth-round stoppage to win the WBC title. Donaire then defended that strap in December with a fourth-round knockout over the previously undefeated Reymart Gaballo.
In other streaming action on ESPN+:
(May 17, 2022) — WBA/IBF bantamweight world champion Naoya “Monster” Inoue is 17-0 in world title fights and only once has been pushed to the brink.
WBC bantamweight world champion Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire, the four-weight kingpin whose late-career renaissance cemented his status as one of boxing’s greatest lighter weight champions, has one more shot to stun the Japanese pound-for-pound icon.
Inoue and Donaire will meet in a title unification rematch Tuesday, June 7, at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. Inoue and Donaire first fought in November 2019 at Saitama Super Arena, with Inoue overcoming a broken orbital bone and nose to win a unanimous decision in the consensus Fight of the Year.
Inoue-Donaire 2 and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 5 a.m. ET/2 a.m. PT.
“Naoya Inoue and Nonito Donaire’s first fight is among the greatest championship battles I’ve ever seen, and I am thrilled that American fight fans can watch the rematch on ESPN+,” said Top Rank chairman Bob Arum.
Inoue (22-0, 19 KOs), a three-weight world champion, won the WBC light flyweight title in April 2014 and ascended to pound-for-pound prominence with dominant runs at junior bantamweight and bantamweight. At one point, Inoue had a championship streak of seven consecutive knockouts against fighters who had never been stopped before. He joined the bantamweight ranks in May 2018 with a devastating first-round stoppage over Jamie McDonnell. One year later, he knocked out Emmanuel Rodriguez in two rounds to win the IBF world title. Since unifying the IBF and WBA belts versus Donaire, Inoue has knocked out Jason Moloney, Michael Dasmariñas, and Aran Dipaen.
Donaire (42-6, 28 KOs), a 39-year-old future Hall of Famer who won his first world title at flyweight in 2007, has experienced a career rebirth since moving down from featherweight following a decision defeat to Carl Frampton in 2018. He earned stoppage wins over Ryan Burnett and Stephon Young in his first two bantamweight contests before stepping up to face Inoue. Donaire before showed no ill effects from the 12-round shootout with Inoue, returning last May to upset Nordine Oubaali via fourth-round stoppage to win the WBC title. Donaire then defended that strap in December with a fourth-round knockout over the previously undefeated Reymart Gaballo.
In other streaming action on ESPN+:
- Takuma Inoue (15-1, 3 KOs), the younger brother of Naoya and a former bantamweight world title challenger, will defend his WBO Asia Pacific junior featherweight strap in a 12-rounder versus Gakuya Furuhashi (28-8-2, 16 KOs). Inoue has won two straight since a decision loss to Nordine Oubaali for the WBC bantamweight world title, while Furuhashi is unbeaten in 11 fights dating back to 2016.
- Rising junior welterweight star Andy Hiraoka (19-0, 14 KOs) will defend his Japanese title against Shun Akaiwa (7-3-1, 5 KOs) in a 10-rounder. Hiraoka has won five straight by knockout, including two stoppages on Top Rank on ESPN undercards.
iceberg_is_on_fire
Wearing Lions gear when it wasn't cool
I don't think Inoue allows this one to be as close as the first fight.
Recca Gatsby
LWO
First one was a certified classic
such a fukking classic the first fight was
I don't remember Nonito having Inoue fighting so nervous in the third, after getting clipped with heavy shots in the second.
Holy shyt, Inoue was covering up his right eye starting in the third round.
The way Donaire busted up Inoue's face in the eighth. Blood dripping from his nose and eyes.
Are the official scorecards posted online?? Can't believe they were as wide as they were.
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Why not? The first fight was on a Thursday. It was the best Thursday fighy that I have seen lol
Dont know...prolly have to do a search. I always thought monster won but the scores were a little closerI don't remember Nonito having Inoue fighting so nervous in the third, after getting clipped with heavy shots in the second.
Holy shyt, Inoue was covering up his right eye starting in the third round.
The way Donaire busted up Inoue's face in the eighth. Blood dripping from his nose and eyes.
Are the official scorecards posted online?? Can't believe they were as wide as they were.
116-111, 117-109, 114-113
I think Inoue swept the final three rounds, with a KD.
Just listened to the post fight, and Inoue confirmed he had double vision starting from the second.
I think he deserved the W, and probably should've gotten the KO, but it was extremely hard fought. Will have to wait and see if that eye can hold up after that kind of damage.
Inoue-Donaire 2 and undercard bouts will stream live and exclusively in the U.S. on ESPN+ starting at 5 a.m. ET/2 a.m. PT.
chunky_mcdaniels
All Star
It was a crazy third and fourth.I don't remember Nonito having Inoue fighting so nervous in the third, after getting clipped with heavy shots in the second.
Holy shyt, Inoue was covering up his right eye starting in the third round.
The way Donaire busted up Inoue's face in the eighth. Blood dripping from his nose and eyes.
Are the official scorecards posted online?? Can't believe they were as wide as they were.
Truth be told Inoue has never been the same physically after that. Not saying it's affected his boxing or anything, but that punch changed his life kinda. He looks different now etc.
Mr. Leonidas
All Star
Legit can't wait for this. I got the Monster winning by decision but Donaire won't make it easy.
