WBSS Bantamweight Final: Naoya Inoue vs. Nonito Donaire - November 7, 2019

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The bantamweight finals appears to be destined for two regions—the southern California area or the Far East.

ESPN.com’s Steve Kim recently reported that Donaire’s promoter, Richard Schaefer of Ringstar Sports is eyeing autumn dates at The Forum in Inglewood, Calif. for the WBSS bantamweight finals.

It could prove to be an exercise in futility, however, as heavy rumors have swirled of Inoue hosting the fight at the 45,000-seat Kyocera Osaka Dome in Osaka, Japan. The baseball stadium has hosted just one other major boxing event, coming 20 years ago when wildly popular all-action slugger and local hero Joichiro Tatsuyoshi sought to become a three-time bantamweight titlist.

The event was also designed to attempt to avenge a title fight loss to Thailand’s Veeraphol Sahaprom, against whom Tatsuyoshi was stopped in the 6th round of a Dec. 1998 shootout. He was already too far in his career to turn back the clock in the Aug. 1999 rematch, suffering a one-sided 7th round knockout in his last ever title fight.

As much won’t be of concern for Inoue, as the 26-year old from Yokohoma is in the heart of his prime and considered among the very best boxers in the world today. His superstar status in Japan has WBSS brass confident his finals clash with Donaire—who enjoys a rabid following in Philippines—could easily fill up the 45,000 seat baseball stadium.

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Naoya Inoue is hopeful the biggest fight of his career to date is also a family affair.

The unbeaten pound-for-pound entrant and reigning bantamweight titlist is awaiting final confirmation of a date and location for his title unification clash versus Nonito Donaire. The bout serves as the finals of the World Boxing Super Series bantamweight tournament, with the event being targeted for November according to Ohashi Promotions, who made the claim during a press conference Thursday in Inoue’s hometown of Yokohoma, Japan.

WBSS representatives have declined comment to BS.com, other than to state talks are ongoing for hosting venues around the world, which in turn will influence when and where the event takes place.

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Should the bout land in Japan—with the Kyocera Osaka Dome among the venues under consideration—the hope among Ohashi Promotions is to arrange for Inoue’s younger brother Takuma Inoue (13-0, 3KOs) to appear in a title consolidation clash with unbeaten reigning WBC 118-pound title claimant Nordine Oubaali, who is due to honor his mandatory following a knockout win over Arthur Villanueva in an optional defense earlier this month.

Donaire (40-5, 26KOs) and Inoue (18-0, 16KOs) both stormed to the finals on the heels of spectacular knockout wins earlier this spring.

A long delay in getting to the WBSS semifinals also saw Donaire endure an opponent change late in the game, settling for Stephon Young whom he annihilated in six rounds this past April. The win counts the same in the tournament bracket but was downgraded from a unification bout to a title defense after originally schedule Zolani Tete suffered an injury just days before the fight and was forced to withdraw.

Three weeks later, Inoue plead his latest case in-ring as to why he should be regarded as the sport’s best pound-for-pound boxer today. He became a three-division titlist with a bang, upgrading from his interim bantamweight title status with a two-round destruction of previously unbeaten title claimant Emmanuel Rodriguez this past May in Glasgow, Scotland.

Inoue entered the semifinals following his 70-second wipeout of former titlist Juan Carlos Payano last October in his Yokohoma hometown. The bout formally kicked off season two of the WBSS, coming 10 weeks prior to Takuma claiming the WBC interim title after outpointing Petch Sor Chitpattana in a battle of unbeaten contenders in Tokyo, Japan.

Takuma Inoue made his debut on a Dec. 2013 show also including his older brother, the first of nine times they shared a bill together.

[Rgoodwin]

Donaire is trying to pull out of the tournament

[Rgoodwin]

Donaire is trying to pull out of the tournament

[NoScoutingReports]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Donaire is trying to pull out of the tournament

Don’t see why he would think of pulling out of the final. Gonna be one last final good payday for him. He’s fought once this year. Which should be fine for him.

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According to Steve Kim, November 9 is a likely date for this.

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Japan’s ‘Monster’ Naoya Inoue (18-0, 16 KOs) and legendary Filipino-American Nonito ‘The Filipino Flash’ Donaire (40-5, 26 KOs) clash for the 118lb Ali Trophy at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on November 7.

Comosa AG, the organiser of the World Boxing Super Series, is delighted to travel to Japan for the bantamweight final.

“The Muhammad Ali Trophy and the best production in boxing arrive in the Land of the Rising Sun for a huge spectacle,” said Kalle Sauerland, Comosa’s Chief Boxing Officer. “Two bonafide superstars are going to find out who is the very best in the division and bring home the Ali Trophy.

“Inoue has proved why he is called the Monster, he is a freak of nature, his power from another planet, and the already iconic Donaire, who produced one of the knockouts of the year in his semi-final, is looking as strong as ever in the twilight of his career.

“What a duel, what a conclusion and what an arena. We simply can’t wait to see who of these gladiators will lift the Trophy on November 7!”

“I can’t wait for the final,” said Inoue. “Donaire is to me a legend in the sport of boxing, and I am honoured to be sharing the ring with him in the final. But I will do my very best to win against the legend to claim the Ali trophy.”

Said Mr. Ohashi, Inoue’s promoter: “Inoue is known as The Monster' and Nonito Donaire is a legend in the sport. I have always felt these two were destined to fight in the ring. It will be a spectacular finale of a great tournament."

Donaire won his quarter-final, as tournament No 1. seed Ryan Burnett was forced to retire from after four rounds of action due to a lower back injury. And the 36-year-old scored a stunning one-punch 6th round knockout of American Stephon Young in the semi-final; a devastating left hook put Young down and out – after the original opponent, Zolani Tete, had to pull out with a shoulder injury only days before the bout.

Donaire said before watching Inoue’s semi-final against Emmanuel Rodriguez: “Inoue has always supported me in this tournament and we have an unspoken thing that we wanted to face each other in the final.”

On November 7 at the Saitama Super Arena, one of the largest indoor arenas in the world, just north of Tokyo, it’s Judgement Day for the ‘Monster’ and ‘The Filipino Flash’.

“I am looking forward to the final in Japan and a great fight,“ said Donaire. “I have fought several world champions, and I will come well prepared. Inoue is an amazing fighter, but I saw flaws in his semi-final, and I think I can definitely create a game plan against him and win the Ali Trophy.”

Said Richard Schaefer, CEO of Ringstar Sports, Donaire's promoter: “November 7 will be a monstrous night for boxing! They call Inoue ‘The Monster’ but Nonito Donaire is undefeated at bantamweight. He is the real Monster and will yet again show the world why he is a true legend of the sport!

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It’s a Thursday.

[EJA]

Inoue p4p n1.
Ko 3

[Boxing Prospect]

Really don't understand the Thursday, especially given the previous weekend is a Bank Holiday, 37,000 fans going to a venue on a Thursday when it's on free TV... Thing is they'll bloody fill it too

[Thomastearns]

Really don't understand the Thursday, especially given the previous weekend is a Bank Holiday, 37,000 fans going to a venue on a Thursday when it's on free TV... Thing is they'll bloody fill it too

I'm sure they will too. This has to be one of the boxing highlights of the year, if not THE highlight of a so far lacklustre (drug fuelled?) fake shopfont cash grab boxing year.

Naoya Inoue's exploits so far are the stuff of boxing legend.

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Donaire said before watching Inoue’s semi-final against Emmanuel Rodriguez: “Inoue has always supported me in this tournament. We have an unspoken thing that we wanted to face each other in the final.”

On November 7 at the Saitama Super Arena, one of the largest indoor arenas in the world, just north of Tokyo, it’s Judgement Day for the ‘Monster’ and Donaire.

“I am looking forward to the final in Japan and a great fight,“ said Donaire. “I have fought several world champions and I will come well prepared.

“Inoue is an amazing fighter, but I saw flaws in his semi-final. I think I can definitely create a game plan against him and win the Ali Trophy.

“This fight is against one of the best fighters in the world,” added the WBC Diamond and WBA ‘Super’ World Bantamweight Champion.

“To see where my career has been and what people have said about where I am. Coming back to the division it inspires me, it motivates me, but most of all it excites me. This is where I want to be,” Donaire concluded.

[gilgamesh]

I'm just curious if Inoue can smash Donaire worse than Walters did.

[littlepug]

Really don't understand the Thursday, especially given the previous weekend is a Bank Holiday, 37,000 fans going to a venue on a Thursday when it's on free TV... Thing is they'll bloody fill it too

I love midweek fights ! Wasn’t Hagler v Leonard during the week ?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Really don't understand the Thursday, especially given the previous weekend is a Bank Holiday, 37,000 fans going to a venue on a Thursday when it's on free TV... Thing is they'll bloody fill it too

I love midweek fights ! Wasn’t Hagler v Leonard during the week ?

Believe it was.

[oogiebe]

This fight isn't getting the attention it deserves. Inoue is argulably no. 1 P4P and Donaire is still dangerous.

[Boxing Prospect]

This fight isn't getting the attention it deserves. Inoue is argulably no. 1 P4P and Donaire is still dangerous.

Near sell out (22,500) 2 months out... So it's getting attention, Inoue featured on 2 notable Japanese shows this week as well

[Ruthless-RKO]

This fight isn't getting the attention it deserves. Inoue is argulably no. 1 P4P and Donaire is still dangerous.

Near sell out (22,500) 2 months out... So it's getting attention, Inoue featured on 2 notable Japanese shows this week as well

Maybe just not on the forum then. Should be on regular Sky Sports in the UK. Hopefully.0

[oogiebe]

Near sell out (22,500) 2 months out... So it's getting attention, Inoue featured on 2 notable Japanese shows this week as well

Maybe just not on the forum then. Should be on regular Sky Sports in the UK. Hopefully.0

I'm talking about here on the forum.

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“This is a huge event, a great one for Japan,” Comosa AG’s Kalle Sauerland told BS.com in revealing his good problem to have of tickets demand far exceeding their now depleted inventory. “It was such great news to hear that this arena is sold out. There will be more than 20,000 at Saitama Arena to witness the handing over of the Ali Trophy to crown the best bantamweight in the world.”

[Thomastearns]

This fight isn't getting the attention it deserves. Inoue is argulably no. 1 P4P and Donaire is still dangerous.

Recent events have strengthened my opinion that he's no 1. He could be the next Manny Pacquiao.

Loma is a more versatile boxer for sure, but Inoue's a master assassin. Precision personified.

He's proven everything there is to prove skill wise, but now it get's tougher. Now it's about living with huge expectations and pressures.

Donaire is certainly a huge danger and this is certainly a huge fight - up there with that December rematch between Andy Ruiz and err, whatshisname?