Naoya Inoue vs. Michael Dasmarinas - 19 June 2021

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Naoya Inoue vs Michael Dasmarinas set for June 19th in Las Vegas

Dasmarinas is Inoue’s IBF mandatory challenger, having beaten Kenny Demecillo in a 2019 eliminator

It won’t be the homecoming he wanted, but unified bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue will indeed face IBF mandatory challenger Michael Dasmarinas in his next defense. Bob Arum tells The Ring that due to Japan’s mandatory two-week quarantine procedures, the fight will take place June 19th in Las Vegas, ideally with “at least a limited number of spectators”

Dasmarinas (30-2-1, 20 KO) first got the call in December 2019 immediately following Inoue’s (20-0, 17 KO) successful war with Nonito Donaire, only for a planned unification match with WBO champ John Riel Casimero and the COVID epidemic to push him back in the queue. As mentioned before, he boasts a one-punch knockout of Karim Guerfi and defeated countryman Kenny Demecillo to claim mandatory status.

He hasn’t fought since October 2019, while Inoue smashed Jason Moloney this past Halloween.

Arum says he thinks Inoue’s “going to go up in weight” afterwards, though he does raise the possibility of unification with either Casimero or the winner of Nordine Oubaali’s still-pending WBC title defense against Donaire. Of the three, Arum names Oubaali as the easiest fight to put together due to the Frenchman’s advisor and French promoter being “close” to Top Rank.

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Who is Michael Dasmarinas, Naoya Inoue’s next opponent and mandatory challenger?

Before we delve into boxing matters, tell us please about your upbringing, your family.

I am a part of 11 brothers and sisters. My father is a farmer and my mother is a housewife. My parents raised me in a life where it’s very happy and simple in the province.

When and why did you start boxing?

I started boxing when I was nine years old, all because of watching the sport on our TV. My older brother was an amateur fighter and even my father was a boxer as well, so that’s why I wholeheartedly embrace the sport of boxing.

Do you remember the very first day in the gym?

Yes, I was very excited to see all the equipment in the gym, like the punching bag, speed ball, and other equipment that I hadn’t seen since I started boxing as an amateur. All I ever know and tried before were the mitts, a punching bag made of a sand bag and a speed rope. So I was very happy to try all of the equipment I hadn’t used before.

Did you take to boxing right away, did you know this would be your main pursuit?

When I was still in my amateur career, I did not commit myself to pursuing the pro ranks because all I ever wanted was to compete in the amateurs in our country and finish high school.

What fights have taught you the most?

As a pro boxer, I had two fights where I lost and I learned a lot from it. I remember my first loss was because I got carried away and I did not really check myself out. I lacked training and I was not really in a good condition before, but I chose to fight regardless. So now I am putting in the work like a champion does even if there’s no fight scheduled yet! Then my second loss happened in Africa due to a split decision. I learned that when you go out of your country and fight where the fighter is in his hometown, you have to make sure to knock the opponent out!

Inoue is very highly regarded. Do you have some ideas on how to fight him?

To beat Inoue, I have to make sure I am at least a level above him and fight with speed, power and precision. I am going out there to give him a good fight and win and I am putting in the necessary work to get that result!

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Mikaela Mayer vs Erica Farias, Adam Lopez vs Isaac Dogboe set for June 19th on ESPN



Naoya Inoue will have some solid support for his June 19th mandatory title defense against Michael Dasmarinas, as Mikaela Mayer will defend her title against Erica Farias in the ESPN co-feature while Adam Lopez faces Isaac Dogboe in the top ESPN+ prelim.

Former Olympian Mayer (14-0, 5 KO) will be making the first defense of her WBO super featherweight title, which she took from Ewa Brodnicka via dominant decision last October. She faces a former longtime lightweight and super lightweight champion in Argentina’s Farias (26-4, 10 KO), who’s coming off a pair of losses to Jessica McCaskill

Mayer said, “I am excited for my first title defense as WBO world champion. Although I had sought a unification bout, Farias is a worthy opponent who will make for an entertaining, action-packed fight. She brings excellent credentials and has only lost to some of the best women boxing today. I’m ready and eager to pass another test and showcase the skills that will eventually make me your undisputed champion.”

“Blunose” Lopez is 2-0 since an admirable last-minute effort against Oscar Valdez, gritting his way through excellent battles with Louie Coria and Jason Sanchez. He’ll presumably have a willing dance partner in former super bantamweight champ Dogboe (21-2, 15 KO), last seen stopping Chris Avalos in his featherweight debut. Expect this one to steal the show.

Lopez said, “Dogboe is a former world champion who always comes to fight. But I’m a different fighter now, and I know what a win would mean for my career. I’m coming to Las Vegas to steal the show.”

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I hope Snoozenson's fight does't turn off any potential eyes that would have stayed uo to watch Inoue fight this weekend.

Gonna be a cracker!!

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Inoue looks past Dasmariñas, wants Casimero, Donaire next

Naoya Inoue isn't just looking past Michael Dasmariñas, he's looking at disposing of Johnriel Casimero and Nonito Donaire as well.

Interviewed during the break of the Shakur Stevenson-Jeremiah Nakathila fight last Saturday, June 12 (Sunday, June 13, Manila time), the Japanese fighter bared he intends to become a unified bantamweight champion.

And Inoue, the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation champion, can start by beating Dasmariñas, the mandatory challenger, on Saturday, June 19, at the Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.

Either Casimero, the World Boxing Organization champion, or Donaire, the World Boxing Council titlist, could be next in line depending on what Top Rank big boss Bob Arum decides.

"Right now, my motivation is to unify all four titles, so you have Casimero and Donaire. That is who I want to fight. That is my motivation for now," said Inoue, the huge favorite over Dasmariñas.

The unbeaten Inoue (20-0, 17 knockouts), who arrived in Las Vegas from Tokyo on June 9, saw Stevenson (16-0, 8 KOs) dominate Nakathila (21-2, 17 KOs) to clinch the vacant interim WBO junior lightweight belt.

Whether he can do the same to Dasmariñas (30-2-1, 20 KOs) remains to be seen, but 95% of bettors believe Inoue will prevail and further bolster his pound-for-pound status.

Dasmariñas arrived ahead in the United States on May 31 and is in Los Angeles wrapping up his preparations for Inoue at the Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood.

Dasmariñas held his final sparring session last Friday, June 11, and his chief trainer Tacy Macalos and trainer Ting Ariosa believe he is ready to test Inoue's mettle.

According to Art Monis, Dasmariñas' manager, the focus will now be on maintaining Dasmariñas' form and shedding the excess pounds.

Dasmariñas weighed 126 pounds last Saturday and is expected to hit the scales at exactly 118 in the official weigh-in on Friday, June 18. – Rappler.com

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Press Release | Undercard Information

2016 Olympian Lindolfo Delgado, is ready for a pair of significant firsts. Delgado will make his Las Vegas and Top Rank debuts this Saturday, June 19 against Salvador Briceno in an eight-round junior welterweight bout at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.

Delgado-Briceno will be among the undercard bouts streaming live and exclusively on ESPN+ at 7:45 p.m. ET/4:45 p.m. PT. WBA/IBF bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue against mandatory challenger Michael Dasmarinas, WBO female junior lightweight world champion Mikaela Mayer versus Erica Farias, and a 10-round featherweight showdown between Adam Lopez and Isaac “Royal Storm” Dogboe will be broadcast live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes (simulcast on ESPN+) at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, tickets starting at $75 are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting Etix.com.

Delgado (11-0, 11 KOs) emerged from the Rio Olympics as one of the sport’s most highly sought-after prospects, and he’s thus far lived up to the billing. He knocked out five of his first eight foes in three rounds or less, using a ferocious body attack to end many of his evenings early. Delgado has not fought since September 2019 on the Errol Spence Jr.-Shawn Porter undercard, when he battered Jesus Zazueta Anaya over six one-sided rounds. Briceno (17-6, 11 KOs), from Guadalajara, Mexico, is an eight-year pro who has not been knocked out in nearly four years. He’s gone the distance against top prospects Josue Vargas, Gabriel Flores, Jr. and Yomar Alamo.

In other undercard action on ESPN+:

Heavyweight knockout artist Guido “The Gladiator” Vianello (7-0-1, 7 KOs), a 2016 Italian Olympian, makes his return against Dante Stone (5-1, 3 KOs) in a bout scheduled for six or four rounds. Vianello hopes to bounce back from last October’s draw to Bubble fan-favorite Kingsley Ibeh.

Lightweight prospect Eric Puente (5-0), a San Diego product who is part of Robert Garcia’s loaded stable, will face an opponent to be named in a six-rounder.

In a four-round battle of unbeaten junior welterweights, emerging Puerto Rican star Omar Rosario (3-0, 1 KO) will fight JJ Mariano (3-0, 2 KOs), a native of Reno, Nevada. Rosario shined Feb. 20 on the Oscar Valdez-Miguel Berchelt undercard and stopped Uriel Villanueva in two rounds.

[THEBUTCH]

Never miss an Inoue fight The guy is all action, skill and class rolled into one.

Already a modern day great and the rate he's going at he'll be in the hall of fame with ease.

[NoScoutingReports]

[margaret thatcher]

love inoue but cant see any good fights on his horizon, he shoulda signed with pbc

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BLH Predictions

Scott Christ (36-10-2)

Some people like the concept of mandatory challengers, and I agree the concept is OK. There are plenty of fighters out there who would be (and are) avoided for fights they really have earned, at least as much as boxing makes anyone earn title fights ever. But boxing has a lot of “concepts” that sound good but are then abused on one level or five. Mandatory challengers are one of them. How many Canelo-Yildirim and Taylor-Khongsong type fights do you really need to sit through? And to know you have to, that the guy with the belt (another thing better in concept than boxing reality) he wants to keep has to do this or be stripped or whatever? It stinks and sucks.

Inoue-Dasmarinas is one of those. I’m sure he’ll try his best — no reason to suspect he won’t — but on paper Dasmarinas has no business in a ring with Inoue. Maybe he’ll shock the world, he wouldn’t be the first to at least be stunningly competitive when expected to get trucked, but the smart money is on trucked. Inoue TKO-3

Wil Esco (38-8-2)

Naoya Inoue is 28 years old and clearly in the prime of his meteoric rise up the pound-for-pound ranks. Inoue is a rare talent who possess pretty much all the attributes you’d want in a fighter: speed, power, technique, ferocity, and a considerable boxing IQ to match. Inoue could soon meet a bridge too far is he decides to go up in weight, but in this particular fight against Dasmarinas I see nothing that Inoue hasn’t already seen and handled. I’m going to take Inoue to score a first half stoppage. Inoue TKO-4

Patrick L. Stumberg (37-9-2)

I don’t think anyone would have complained if I’d taken one look at this matchup, said “Inoue’s going to punch a hole through this dude’s head,” and left to go play Guilty Gear. Despite this, I put in the time to actually watch tape, and can now say with empirical data backing that Inoue’s going to punch a hole through this dude’s head. Dasmarinas’ selling points begin and end with offbeat movement and decent body punching, neither of which figure to even remotely bother the likes of Inoue. Unless he’s literally fallen off a cliff since the Moloney beating, Inoue will have no trouble cutting off the cage and punishing the Filipino’s looping punches with his customary ramrod counters.

All Dasmarinas can really hope is that this will finally be the beating that convinces the IBF to revamp its rankings. He can be a “Hot and Spicy” martyr for challengers yet to come. Inoue KO-2

And the staff winner is...

Naoya Inoue (3-0)!

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Judges
Tim Cheatham (Nevada)
Patricia Morse Jarman (Nevada)
Don Trella (Connecticut)

Referee
Russell Mora (Nevada)

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Shame we don’t get prelims. They start in half hour.

Main card at 3am guys

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Bob Arum's Top Rank Present: Inoue vs. Dasmarinas

Date: Saturday, June 19, 2021
Main Card Start Time: 10pm ET | 7pm PT | 3am BST
Preliminary Card Start Time: 7:45 pm ET | 4:45 pm PT | 12:45 am BST
Location: Virgin Hotels - Las Vegas, NV
US TV: ESPN (Main)
UK TV: Sky Sports (Main)
Streaming: ESPN+

Main Card (ESPN+, ESPN & Sky Sports)

Unified IBF & WBA World Bantamweight Championship
Naoya Inoue (20-0, 17 KOs) vs. Michael Dasmarinas (30-2-1, 20 KOs)

WBO Female Super Featherweight Championship
Mikaela Mayer (14-0, 5 KOs) vs. Erica Farias (26-4, 10 KOs)

NABF Featherweight Championship
Adam Lopez (15-2, 6 KOs) vs. Isaac Dogboe (21-2, 15 KOs)

Prelims (ESPN+, 7:45 pm ET)

8 Round Super Lightweight Bout
Lindolfo Delgado vs Salvador Briceno

6 Round Lightweight Bout
Eric Puente (5-0, 0 KOs) vs Jose Antonio Meza (7-5, 2 KOs)

4 Round Super Lightweight Bout
Omar Rosario (3-0, 1 KO) vs Wilfred Mariano (3-0, 2 KOs)

[Glass Joe]

Just woke up thought it would have finished by now. i will take it.

[Glass Joe]

Close fight nothing happening then Inoue drops him in the 2nd with a body shot. Das survived till the end of the round

[Glass Joe]

Inou drops him twice again in the 2nd with left hooks to the body, its over

[margaret thatcher]

inoue is vicious to the ribs isnt he

[Glass Joe]

Yes nothing happening upstairs but found that weakness with them cracking left hooks to the body. Hopefully get a rematch with Donaire

[THEBUTCH]

Inoue brilliant again

Technically superb, but no compromise on the excitement and brutality

[handsofstone]

Mismatch as expected but still great to see Inoue not fvck about, just destroyed Dasmarinas with left hooks to the body, whipped in a cracking shot for first knockdown in the 2nd, you seen Dasmarinas wince before deciding to take a count, the second KD in the 3rd looked a finisher, folded Dasmarinas in half, must've took everything to get up again then the third and last knockdown same again, brutal bodypunching from Inoue

[NoScoutingReports]

Inoue is one of the best body punchers in the game at the moment, no doubt. Vicious.

Thought Lopez v Dogboe was a pretty entertaining fight, Dogboe started much the sharper of the two and his hand speed was causing Lopez a lot of problems but as the fight wore on Lopez worked his way back with some neat combinations as Isaac tired - I think Dogboe would have been in big trouble had it been a 12-rounder. Neither man looked to have hurt the other greatly but plenty of good exchanges, Lopez always leaves it all in the ring. Dogboe looks too small to be a threat at the top of the 126-pound division I have to say, very game however.

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