NONITO Donaire Jr. is confident he would come out victorious when he battles Japan’s Naoya Inoue in their much-awaited rematch for the world bantamweight titles on June 7 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
“It is not only the fight I wanted, but the one the world wanted as well. June 7, in Japan, is going to be a special evening for the sport and make no mistake, it will end in a Donaire victory,” the reigning World Boxing Council bantamweight king said yesterday in a story posted on the boxingscene.com website.
“I am heading into this monumental fight with a new mindset, because the first contest with Inoue was an awakening for me and I now know I can defeat him,” the “Filipino Flash” stressed.
The last time they fought at the same arena on Nov. 11, 2019, Donaire lost by unanimous decision to Inoue, who took the World Boxing Association super bantam and International Boxing Federation bantam belts.
But the Japanese “Monster” suffered a right orbital bone fracture as a result of the bruising battle that the revered Ring Magazine named as the 2019 Fight of the Year.
“Our first fight was brutal and amazing, it was a classic, but the rematch is going to be even better,” noted Donaire, who is keen on adding Inoue as his 47th – and possibly his 29th knockout – victim against six losses.
But it definitely won’t be a stroll in the park against the heavy hometown favorite, who remains unbeaten in 22 fights, spiked by 19 knockouts.
There is also the fact that Inoue, 29, is 10 years younger than his battle-scarred Filipino foe.
Donaire, however, has proven that he can turn back the clock and still packs a punch, knocking out his last two foes, including a fourth-round stoppage of compatriot Reymart Gaballo in a mandatory title fight last December at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson City, California.
He was “grateful for the work of (Probellum CEO) Richard (Schaefer) and Probellum in helping to make this fight a reality,” referring to his longtime American promoter.
