Jamie McDonnell (WBA 'Regular') vs. Naoya Inoue - May 25th 2018

[TheLeprechaun]

McDonnell himself said he needed to lookup who Inoue was.

[Yes We Can]

If Mcdonnell was to win where do you rank him? In my opinion it would be hard to argue against him being p4p the uk's number 1.

[Datsue]

If Mcdonnell was to win where do you rank him? In my opinion it would be hard to argue against him being p4p the uk's number 1.

I don't really do p4p (as in, at all) but I'd say—considering form & all that—it might be the best win of anyone fighting at bantamweight anywhere in the world & the best win of any currently active British fighter at any weight, yes.

Joshua's got the name recognition (for the win over Wlad) but Wlad was 40-something & lost & looked like shite the fight before... If you count Fury as active (I know he's about to fight again!) I'd still say it's better 'cos Inoue's in his absolute prime, not my age after a long, long career.

I will say, having had a think about it, that Inoue's opposition since beating Narvaez four years ago has been absolute shite. I know he had injuries & stuff but he definitely went via the path of least resistance after coming back after that.

That does give me pause & certainly I can envisage a scenario where Jamie's size & jab can wear down & frustrate the youngster... But I don't think it's especially likely.

[littlepug]

If Mcdonnell was to win where do you rank him? In my opinion it would be hard to argue against him being p4p the uk's number 1.

I don't really do p4p (as in, at all) but I'd say—considering form & all that—it might be the best win of anyone fighting at bantamweight anywhere in the world & the best win of any currently active British fighter at any weight, yes.

Joshua's got the name recognition (for the win over Wlad) but Wlad was 40-something & lost & looked like shite the fight before... If you count Fury as active (I know he's about to fight again!) I'd still say it's better 'cos Inoue's in his absolute prime, not my age after a long, long career.

Can anyone else name a better British win for an active fighter?

Not really, in fact Jamies 2 wins over Kameda are also wins worth bragging about

[Datsue]

Not really, in fact Jamies 2 wins over Kameda are also wins worth bragging about

Yup, tough guy in his prime, & did it twice.

[boxrecer777]

So will this be around midday on Friday for us in the UK?

[littlepug]

So will this be around midday on Friday for us in the UK?

1pm i think

[SenorPipino]

McDonnell himself said he needed to lookup who Inoue was.

By Friday night, McDonnell will know Inoue all too well.

[jamamb]

im not so sure itll be so easy for inoue as is consensus. not that i super buy into height and reach advantages, but mcdonnell has absolutely massive ones here and hes a good boxer. inoue has been bossing guys at lower weights but never proven at this division. mcdonnel is a tough fighter who has exceelent stamina and never been stopped

could be a bit of loma-linares where the super talent moving up wins but not easy

although do have to say mcdonnell i didnt think looked so hot in his last fights. ppl say he fights to the opposition and maybe. although perhaps its also a sign of being the right time to fight him.

[Counter-puncher]

im not so sure itll be so easy for inoue as is consensus. not that i super buy into height and reach advantages, but mcdonnell has absolutely massive ones here and hes a good boxer. inoue has been bossing guys at lower weights but never proven at this division. mcdonnel is a tough fighter who has exceelent stamina and never been stopped

could be a bit of loma-linares where the super talent moving up wins but not easy

although do have to say mcdonnell i didnt think looked so hot in his last fights. ppl say he fights to the opposition and maybe. although perhaps its also a sign of being the right time to fight him.

There's a lot to be said for that

I definitely think Mcdonells kind of high energy peppering style will give Inoue something to think about, he's clever with his feet and won't give Inoue chance to throw bombs at a stationary target.

It will be interesting to see Inoues tactics. He hasn't had such a height and size difference to overcome I don't think, and it doesn't strike me that his natural game is to get into a guy's chest and pressure-volume and take his space away, Inoue actually seems to like working at his own pace and picking shots,
if McDonnell can get into a rythm I could see Inoue spending too much time waiting for big shots. I don't think I'd want to counter McDonnell I'd want to pressure him and cut the ring.

On the other hand if Inoue shows he can time McDonnell and hurt him early, I think it's a long night in store for McDonnell.
We'll see how Inoues power tests out at 118, I'm not sure he'll be the absolute biggest puncher McDonnell has faced, not sure he throws a single shot harder than Cejas left hook for example, but he mixes and picks and puts shots together much better than Ceja so much more chance of the really shocking clean power shot out of nowhere.

[handsofstone]

Looks like Sky wont be showing the Shiro/Lopez rematch, wouldn't have minded catching that one

[Ruthless-RKO]

Looks like Sky wont be showing the Shiro/Lopez rematch, wouldn't have minded catching that one

I don't get why. The broadcast is 90 mins.

[Boxing Prospect]

If you want to watch Ken Shiro Vs Lopez II - You can make a 1 day trial account on Friday with https://fujitv.live and watch it on Fuji TV :) (The service was set up for Japanese expats but there's no reason any can't use it as a trial). Would suggest people who want to watch Japanese boxing in general look into the subscription services of FujiTV and isakura as well :)

[Autobarn]

I rate McDonnell and see no controversy after the narrow, debatable either way fights vs Edwards, Napa and Haskins. (I felt he lost to Edwards in a fair decision but that he lost to Napa and beat Haskins). I felt he beat Kameda both times and Solis first time, although the finish wasn’t as strong as I’m accustomed to seeing from him. Best 12 round fighter in the UK, good engine and well schooled. The last Solis fight being cut short may have deflated McDonnell, or may have saved him for a final gruelling distance fight, who knows?

I like how he’s matured, is able to tackle multiple styles and finishes the gruelling or difficult 12 rounders strongly. The worry for me isn’t how good he is, but rather how depleted he will be continuing at 118. And how invigorated Inoue will be, moving up. Because Inoue truly can fight - I saw this in his fight as a novice for the Japanese title vs Taguchi, in a matchup of future world champions. Inoue didn’t like even losing a portion of a round and responded with Morales style rallies of uppercuts and right crosses. For me Taguchi was the fight that really showed what he can do. And indicate what he could be capable of.

I really am hoping for an epic that surpasses the many hard fought bantamweight world title fights of recent years.

[jamamb]

until the other day i hadnt even realised inoue in his 4th fight beat taguchi! that is a really good win.

i remember back when it happened hearing about inoue widely decisioning someone but i didnt know it was taguchi

[Boxing Prospect]

https://boxmob.jp/sp/newsimage540.php?f ... 46_0sp.jpg

Monster vs Skeletor

[Taansend]

Did they weigh in yet?

[littlepug]

Did they weigh in yet?

Yes Inoue was bang on 118, Jamie was 1/2 pound under.

[Taansend]

Did they weigh in yet?

Yes Inoue was bang on 118, Jamie was 1/2 pound under.

Cheers Mate

Just read this.....

http://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12 ... aoya-inoue

[littlepug]

Did they weigh in yet?

Yes Inoue was bang on 118, Jamie was 1/2 pound under.

Cheers Mate

Just read this.....

http://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12 ... aoya-inoue

Crikey Jamies face looks gaunt there, i saw a bloke comment on FB saying "if Geldof saw the pair of em he would be throwing em a benefit"

[nitro5912]

Blimey. Surely Jamie can use his reach to his advantage.

[Taansend]

Blimey. Surely Jamie can use his reach to his advantage.

Yep, just like every Mike Tyson opponent did

[KiwiRider]

Credit to Jamie, it is tough to make weight given his size and having to travel etc.
He is going to puff up big time
I'm really looking forward to this, I know the poll says Jamie is going to get "monstered" but I'm not so sure...

[jamamb]

funny mcdonnell looked totally fine i thought in the press conference pics just a few days ago but then ya looks like a skeleton and very gaunt at the weigh in. maybe lighting differences?

[Autobarn]

He looked skeletal before the Solis fights as well.

For me the key for McDonnell - will he start in the 5th, 6th or 7th? When will he truly get going and will it be soon enough? It has been a bit of a tightrope the past few years.

For Inoue - look at how few fights he has considering how decorated he is. Has fast tracking him left something out of his game? Reminds me of Kazuto Ioka, superb fighter who came unglued vs a difficult pro, having few answers versus the “Thai Bernard Hopkins” Amnat Ruenrong. Jamie isn’t a spoiler like that but a very well rounded pro, versatile enough to adapt to multiple styles. Could there be a gap, things he wasn’t able to pick up - that McDonnell can take advantage of?

Over the past decade there have been many hard fought, closely contested and controversial world title bouts at bantamweight - all the Mares, Agbeko, Darchinyan, Perez contests, for instance (apart from Agbeko v Darchinyan). Almost all of them delivering. Then later Yamanaka v Moreno & Solis, and then McDonnell’s rivalry vs Kameda and the war with Julio Ceja. Hope this one will be even better.