By Joe Koizumi
Photos: Naoki Fukuda
WBA, IBF world bantamweight champion “Monster” Naoya Inoue (22-0, 19 KOs) showed a public workout before the press on Wednesday at Ohashi Gym in Yokohama, Japan. He looked fit and sharp in strenuous training thirteen days before his grudge fight with WBC ruler Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire (42-6, 28 KOs), 39, with the three belts on the line at the Saitama Super Arena on June 7.
Naoya replied to the press representative’s questions:
“I’m very much motivated to display my improved real power to Donaire. Whatever strategy he may select and show, I’ll cope with him with no problem since I’m in great shape. Last time I had a grueling fight with him, but this time it won’t become like that. I’ll be convincingly victorious without fail.”
_
This time might have a different result.
What about Donaire having the monster’s numbers?
We were deceived by Donaire several times and he proved wrong many of us. I never thought he could’ve been so competitive against Inoue or dispatched Nordine Oubaali so easy, but I thought he was done after his loss to Frampton, then when he moved down to bantamweight to participate for the Ali trophy, again I thought his chances were limited, and we all know how oustanding his performance was. In my point of view, this time Donaire will find a completely different Inoue and even though he will very competitive the first half of the fight, gradually Inoue’s youth and power will be too much for him to handle and maybe by the 10th or 11th round he would be saved of more punishment, after an epic and valiant effort
Burucho, what you say makes total sense. However, there were many times where I thought Donaire was done and he rose to the occasion. So I think I’ll believe donaire will lose when he loses. Until then he will find a way to pull through.
I hope to be wrong on my prediction Whetto because that could be a great way for Donaire to retire
This is not a grudge match, they both like each other.
This fight has so many questions to be answered. Besides Donaire getting old since he was last seen, I see this as a great fight. Perhaps fight of the year candidate.
This is going to be helluva fight
I’d love to watch it but it comes on at 5 a.m. ET. Pretty darn early for me.
Donaire By 10th round K.O. Never count out the Filipino Flash.