One of the biggest upsets in sports history took place in Tokyo when Buster Douglas shockingly beat Mike Tyson for the heavyweight championship.
Nonito Donaire (40-5, 26 KOs), an underdog 37-year-old WBA bantamweight champion, is hoping history repeats itself when he travels to the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan to face Naoya Inoue (18-0, 16 KOs), a 26-year-old IBF crownholder and arguably one of boxing’s pound-for-pound best.
“He’s a terrific fighter. He’s a very powerful guy. He has monstrous power but he hasn’t really been tested because he just runs through his opponents,” Donaire told BoxingScene.com in an interview. “I’m excited to test him and show him my capabilities and what I still bring to boxing.
“I’m very excited. It’s a great honour to be fighting Inoue in Japan ... I have big respect for him, he looks ready. Like we saw with Canelo vs Kovalev, height doesn’t matter, size doesn’t matter. Ultimately it’s about the game plan, and I believe I have the game plan to beat Inoue. And my experience will carry me through.”
Donaire and Inoue will also be fighting for the Ali Trophy as part of the final of the World Boxing Super Series bantamweight tournament. Inoue will be fighting in his home country in front of over 20,000 fans as brother Takuma Inoue (13-0, 3 KOs) will take on Frenchman Nordine Oubaali (16-0, 12 KOs) for the WBC bantamweight title.
“I have been watching Donaire throughout his career and was stealing his moves when I was starting out in boxing,” said Naoya Inoue. “I have a lot of respect for Donaire, I have idolised him and that’s why he was the one I wanted to fight the most in this tournament. But now it’s time for a change of generations.”
Richard Schaefer, head of Ringstar Sports and Donaire’s promoter, said the Filipino fighter will be leaning back on over a decade of experience in big-time fights to get past the favorite Inoue.
“As a promoter, I love situations like this where nobody gives you a chance,” Schaefer told BoxingScene.com in an interview. “He was written off before the WBSS started, but here he is, world champion again. He’s so relaxed now and full of confidence. He’s a man on a mission, and knows exactly what to do defeat the Monster.
“He loves to compete and fight the best in the world. He likes to be challenged is embracing the underdog role at this stage of his career. This will be the cherry on top of his Hall of Fame resume. I’ve never met a fighter who is mentally strong, tough, determined and hungry, especially at this stage of his career.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist and member of the Boxing Writers Assn. of America since 2011. He has written for the likes of the Guardian, USA Today, Philadelphia Inquirer, Men’s Health and NFL.com and currently does TV commentary for combat sports programming that airs on Fox Sports. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan or via email at manouk.akopyan@gmail.com.
