Naoya Inoue: record, next fight and profile →
More than a year after being scheduled to fight him in this town, John Riel Casimero had the chance to see Naoya Inoue live in action in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, Casimero’s role was limited to that of spectator rather than participant.
"The Monster" Naoya Inoue did it again, knocking out IBF mandatory challenger Michael Dasmarinas in the third round with a left hook to the liver to retain his WBA and IBF bantamweight world titles at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
Naoya Inoue made up for a late start to his fight by providing a quick ending and an exciting finish. The three-division and reigning WBA/IBF bantamweight titlist offered the latest example of why many hail him as among the very best fighters in the world following a third-round knockout of Philippines’ Michael Dasmarinas. Yokohama, Japan’s Inoue scored three knockdowns, the last of which prompted the knockout finish at 2:45 of round three Saturday evening at The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
Naoya Inoue was merely a spectator for Shakur Stevenson’s win this past Saturday, though couldn’t help but envision how his own fight will look in this very venue just seven days later.
By Jake Donovan - It takes a lot for the humble yet confident Naoya Inoue to break character. The level of trash talk that has come from fellow three-division and reigning bantamweight titlist John Riel Casimero has yet to do the trick. Instead, Inoue focuses on the stuff that matters which for this week means the next defense of his unified WBA/IBF bantamweight titles.
Naoya Inoue’s return to Las Vegas will feature two of the three judges who worked his previous fight. Tim Cheatham (Nevada) and Patricia Morse Jarman (Nevada) are once again assigned to a bantamweight title fight featuring Yokohama, Japan’s Inoue (20-0, 17KOs) who faces IBF mandatory challenger Michael Dasmarinas (30-2-1, 20KOs) this Saturday on ESPN from The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. The locally based official are joined by Don Trella (Connecticut) to score the evening’s main event, while Russell Mora (Nevada) will serve as referee for the scheduled 12-round contest.
Naoya Inoue, Michael Dasmarinas Weights Photos Gallery - Naoya "Monster" Inoue is a man of few words, but his devastating knockouts, climb up the pound-for-pound rankings and cult hero status among combat sports fans have elevated the Japanese prodigy to main event status. (photos by Mikey Williams)
The stateside tour continues for one of the sport’s very best. Japan’s Naoya Inoue is set to make his third defense of at least one bantamweight title as the pound-for-pound entrant faces Philippines’ Michael Dasmarinas. Both boxers made weight for their scheduled 12-round main event Saturday evening, airing live on ESPN and ESPN+ from The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
Inoue, Dasmarinas Final Press Conference Photos Gallery - Naoya "Monster" Inoue is a man of few words, but his devastating knockouts, climb up the pound-for-pound rankings and cult hero status among combat sports fans have elevated the Japanese prodigy to main event status. (photos by Mikey Williams)
By Cliff Rold - Even with a COVID postponement of the lightweight title clash between Teofimo Lopez and George Kambosos, June 19, 2021 is as high volume a day as boxing has had in recent memory. ESPN, DAZN, and Showtime all have cards along with Fite.TV streaming an independent pay-per-view offering of the exhibition variety.