Filipino champion Nonito Donaire is bidding for what could be his final shot at his greatest glory in a two-decade boxing career as he takes another crack at undefeated Japanese champion Naoya Inoue.
And so expect the two protagonists to go all out in their rematch on Tuesday evening (Asian time) at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
The bantamweight title unification bout is scheduled for 12 rounds with three belts on the line.
At 39, Donaire will have one more chance at becoming the undisputed world champion as he stakes his World Boxing Council bantamweight title and takes aim at the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation crowns of the younger Inoue.
Donaire (42 wins, 28 Kos, and 6 losses) said he feels stronger than ever and his mindset only points him in one direction.
“I am the undisputed—that goes into my head, that goes into my meditation,” he said. “In the next few days, that’s all I’m saying. I am the best, I am the champion, I am undisputed.”
Donaire cannot be blamed for feeling that way. During the last defense of his crown, he showed that he still packs a punch, knocking out countryman Reymart Gaballo in the fourth round.
His confidence was also boosted by the fact that he has proven that he could hurt Inoue, who overcame a broken facial bone and nose to win via unanimous decision in their first encounter in November 2019 at Saitama Super Arena.
It was hailed as the Fight of the Year.
But Inoue, who is undefeated in 22 fights, 17 of them in world title bouts, also has a plan of his own and that is to stop Donaire and retire him for good.
The 29-year-old Inoue is coming off an eighth-round stoppage of unheralded Thai Aran Dipaen in Tokyo in December. He promised to be faster and stronger and no more “Drama in Saitama.”
“It will be over without him touching me, “ Inoue said through an interpreter. “I think Donaire might retire if he loses.”
Donaire is one of the only three remaining active world Filipino champions, with the two other being Mark Magsayo and Rene Cuarto.
Magsayo wrested the WBC featherweight title from Gary Russell Jr. with a majority decision win in January in New Jersey, while Cuarto kept his IBF minimumweight title after repeating over fellow Filipino Pedro Taduran in February in Davao del Sur.
Jerwin Ancajas’ long reign in the IBF Super flyweight division was halted by Argentinian Fernando Martinez, who won the title bout via unanimous decision last February in Las Vegas.
Just last month, John Riel Casimero was stripped of his WBO bantamweight title after he failed to defend it on two occasions against challenger Paul Butler.
And Donaire hopes to save the number from diminishing come Tuesday night Saitama, Japan.