Naoya Inoue Easily Retains Unified Champion Status!
At the Virgin Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, Naoya Inoue (21-0, 18KO) defended the unified IBF and WBA bantamweight titles against mandatory IBF challenger, Michael Dasmarinas (30-3-1, 20 KOs).
At this point in his career, Inoue has become a bonafide star in boxing. A three-division world champion at light flyweight, super flyweight, and bantamweight, his resume matches up with any current fighter in the sport.
The 28-year-old from Zama, Kanagawa, Japan, took his career to the next level after signing a co-promotional deal with Top Rank in 2019. It expanded his brand to the United States. With eyes on becoming one of the all-time greats, Inoue hopes to continue the momentum against Dasmarinas who hasn’t lost in six years.
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EASY WORK
Two inches taller than the champion, the southpaw challenger was doing the smart thing by opening the fight on the outside. However, one of Inoue’s underrated attributes is his professionalism.
After sizing up his prey in round one, the champion pounced in the second. He found a home with the left hook to the body. With sixty-six seconds to go in the round, he put Dasmarinas down with an accumulation of body punches. From there, he began to tenderize the challenger’s right ribcage with the left hook to the body.
FINISH HIM OFF
The champ smelled blood, but he attacked with patience. With forty-two seconds to go in round three, another left hook to the liver put the challenger on his knee. Then with twenty seconds to go in the round, he finished him off with what? Yet another savage left hook.
When faced with an inferior opponent, you are expected to win and do so decisively. That’s what the fighter nicknamed “Monster” did in devastatingly easy fashion. Naoya Inoue proved once again why he’s one of the most lethal boxers in the world.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
