Inoue vs Donaire 2 set for June
1 min read
A rematch between Naoya Inoue and Nonito Donaire is set to take place later this year.
Inoue’s WBA and IBF bantamweight crowns, as well as Donaire’s WBC belt, will be on the line in this unification bout on June 7th at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
The duo previously met in the final of the World Boxing Super Series in 2019, with Inoue emerging winner by unanimous decision. The bout was later selected the Ring Magazine’Fight of the Year’.’The Monster’ survived a shattered orbital bone around his right eye to unify the WBA and IBF world bantamweight belts, as well as win the World Boxing Super Series at 118 pounds, by defeating Donaire on points.
Even though Donaire is 39 years old, this is a long-awaited rematch that hasn’t been anything less than the best fight to make in the division in the two-and-a-half years that has gone by.His back-to-back stoppage victories against Nordine Oubaali —which earned him the WBC title — and Reymart Gaballo have only served to emphasize that this is still the best bantamweight fight on the planet.
Inoue has fought three times since his victory against Donaire, defeating Jason Moloney in 2020 and outmatched Michael Dasmarinas and Araen Dipaen, both mandatory challengers, in 2021.
Let’s hope that the rematch would be as thrilling as their first encounter.
