Fast Result from Japan: Inoue Turns Away Donaire in a Barnburner

Another candidate for Fight of the Year emerged today in Saitama, Japan, where local hero Naoya “Monster” Inoue and Nonito Donaire, the Filipino Flash, put on a show that had the capacity crowd (reportedly 37,000!) rocking. There were times when it appeared that an upset was brewing and other times when it appeared that the Filipino was a cooked goose, but he demonstrated amazing recuperative powers and the fight went the full 12.

Inoue had won eight straight inside the distance. Each of his last four opponents was blasted out within the first three rounds. But Donaire wasn’t intimidated and came out pressing the action.

Near the end of round two, a cut opened over Inoue’s right eye. In round four, the cut became more conspicuous and blood started leaking from his nose. The bleeding eventually turned Inoue’s face crimson.

Inoue hurt Donaire on several occasions and knocked him down in the 11^th with a barrage of punches climaxed by a left hook to the body. Donaire was reeling and it appeared that Inoue would keep his knockout streak alive. But Donaire was still game and the fight went to the scorecards where Inoue (19-0, 16 KOs) emerged the winner on a unanimous decision: 117-109, 116-111, 114-113.

It was something of a moral victory for Donaire (40-6) who was appearing in his 18^th world title fight and turns 37 later this month. Although he had been stopped only once, the consensus was that the fight would end with him on his back. But the Las Vegas-based veteran gave Naoya Inoue the hardest fight of his life and left no doubt that a plaque with his name on it is waiting for him in Canastota.

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In the co-feature, Nordine Oubaali, who holds the WBC version of the world bantamweight title, successfully defended his belt with a 12-round decision over Takuma Inoue, Naoya’s younger brother. The scores were 115-112, 117-110, and a ludicrous 120-107 by Mexican judge Alejandro Rochin.

Oubaali, a 33-year-old southpaw and two-time Olympian, one of 18 children born to Moroccan parents in Northern France, improved to 17-0 (12). He had Inoue down in the fourth, but the Japanese wouldn’t go quietly. Takuma Inoue came in undefeated (13-0) and was 10 years younger, but he doesn’t punch nearly as hard as his brother and the outcome was consistent with pre-fight expectations.

Next up for Oubaali may be a mega-fight with Naoya Inoue who would be looking to avenge his brother’s defeat and acquire a third bantamweight title belt.

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