(photo courtesy of WBSS)
With the Rugby World Cup now over, the excellent World Boxing Super Series blows into Saitama, Japan tomorrow (12:10 GMT) when Japanese knockout sensation Naoya ‘The Monster’ Inoue 18-0-0 (16 KO’s) takes on veteran multi-weight champion Nonito ‘The Filipino Flash’ Donaire 40-5-0 (26 KO’s) in the Bantamweight (118lbs/8st 6lbs) final.
The Asian boxing world will be captivated by this elite match-up, which the respective records would suggest, promises to be an explosive affair. Inoue enters the fray as The Ring magazine’s Bantamweight champion and ‘pound for pound’ #4 in the world. High praise indeed. Donaire, close to the twilight of his career has won ‘world’ titles from flyweight to super-bantamweight and has invaluable experience and ring smarts.
But, Inoue has proven so far to be something special. No more than in his semi-final victory in Glasgow, Scotland when he destroyed previously undefeated Emmanuel Rodriguez in less than five minutes.
In a fight that is broadcast live on Sky Sports Action look for Inoue to stop his opponent in rounds 7-10 sending Donaire into retirement, handsomely paid, and a place in the International Boxing Hall of Fame guaranteed. For Inoue, his legacy will only just be beginning and major fights await through the divisions.
The Undisputed 