Context:
Saitama’s Super Arena hosted the WBSS bantamweight final for the WBA/IBF titles. Naoya Inoue (18-0, 16 KOs), Japan’s “Monster,” faced Nonito Donaire (40-5, 26 KOs), the Filipino icon. Inoue’s ferocious precision met Donaire’s crafty power, sparking a brutal, back-and-forth war named 2019’s Fight of the Year.
Footage Link:
R1
- 2:52: inoue lands first with a jab to the body while both fighters fighting for the center
- 2:42: both fighters are weary and cautious, with no jabs landing
- 2:14: the first significant punch was thrown by donaire. Inoue threw a jab to the body, stepped back and as he was stepping in donaire got his head off the center line and caught inoue with a jab
- 1:44: donaire goes for a left hook to the body and it's not visible from this angle if it landed or not. Inoue counters with a left hook and it seems to have landed. Both fighters quickly step out and back in range with donaire coming in with a left hook that missed and inoue with a check hook that landed. Donaire tried to counter with a right hook but inoue was already out of range
- 1:40: again the fighters step out and back in range quickly, this time inoue throws first, starting with a jab and 2 hooks that missed. Both fighters go for a left hook, with donaire throwing to the body and inoue to the head. Again they step out and in range with inoue stepping in with a right hook that landed flush, stepping out of range again from donaire's counter left hook
- 0:15: inoue misses a jab and donaire steps in close with a high guard getting in the pocket, but inoue remains defensively responsible by throwing a pushing check hook to get out of range
- this round was not the usual first round. Both fighters didn't throw much, but when they did they really stuck to the ground and got into heavy exchanges, with mainly inoue getting the better out of them even though donaire was the one to generally put the pressure on inoue.
R2
- This round starts off with heavy inside exchanges, with donaire landing decent body shots but inoue responding with hooks to the head. Inoue gains a bit of confidence and starts walking down donaire
- 1:57: inoue initiates an exchange with a jab that was just out of range, he follows it up a straight right but donaire takes the sting out o it by parrying it. Inoue follows it up with a sharp left hook that landed flush while donaire tried a left of his own to the body but it looked like it was more of a grazing shot
- 0:56: while in the center, inoue gets pushed back with a jab from donaire, almost getting backed up to the corner. He tried to escape to his left by throwing a jab that he landed and stepping to the left, but donaire followed him and inoue shelled up trying to bait donaire. donaire went first for a left uppercut, following with some hooks that landed on the guard. He steps out of range and attempts a right hook but inoue ducks under it and comes back with a left hook that was also ducked by donaire, the latter comes back with his signature left hook that landed flush. This shot broke inoue's orbital bone.
- 0:41: donaire continued the pressure on inoue. To get out of the ropes, inoue attempted a check hook that landed on the guard, but the donaire counters with a stellar left hook that landed on inoue. Inoue still fought in the pocket, only just being a bit more cautious and less aggressive for the remainder of the round.
R3
- This round starts with inoue moving a lot more, defending all of donaire's attempts by simply stepping out of range, and whenever donaire go too close, inoue framed him and got out of range.
- Inoue sticks and moves, not staying for long inside, his hands are also higher than usual, protecting his broken right orbital bone
- 1:18: inoue catches donaire leaning to the left while throwing a cross with a sharp right hook, and keeps himself safe by stepping back as soon as the punch landed. Donaire put more pressure on him backing inoue against the ropes, inoue attempts to get out while donaire was throwing a left hook that missed by countering it with a check hook. Donaire follows him so inoue springs back to his right while controlling the punch lanes with his extended long guard. Donaire continues the pressure, inoue throws a jab and again moves to his left and springs back to the right to throw another jab that missed, donaire tried to counter it with a left hook to the body that was blocked and a right hook that was dodged by inoue using his missed jab as a frame to push donaire back
- Inoue adjusted really well after that left hook in round 2. you can watch this video by a channel called "hidden gem" that goes more into deep analysis of the fight, as this video is simply a summary of what happened from my point of view
R4
- 1:43: inoue caught donaire with a blizzard right hook that landed flush while backing up. Donaire attempted to counter with a left hook that also landed bit. Donaire tried more but inoue dodged and stepped away to donaire's left.
- 1:20: the sudden stops and broken rhythm helps inoue land big shots without setting them up with a jab. This time he lands a cross, ducks under a right hook and steps back to safety
- the round continues with inoue maintaining the upper hand with his defense and quick in and out defense, but donaire still catches him with decent punches
R5
- 2:15: while donaire was stepping in probing and feinting his jab, inoue managed to land a big check hook, he tried to follow it up with a flurry but only a left hook landed
- 2:00: inoue's signature jab counter with a cross made an appearance, landing flush
- 1:17: the fight stagnated a little bit, with inoue mainly landing his jab and dodging any attempts of donaire
- 0:50: donaire times inoue as the latter was stepping to his left with a straight cross that landed
- 0:36: donaire times inoue again but this time inoue seemed to have rolled with the punch to take the sting out of it
- 0:26: inoue counters donaire's jab with beautiful right hook that landed flush. he steps away from range and comes back for more with a right hook that missed and the same for a left hook. He did the same again but he landed the left hook on the chin. Inoue attempted another left hook that landed but he got caught at the same time with donaire's own left hook
- For the last moments of the round, inoue became the aggressor since donaire was hurt, backing him up against the ropes and landing decent shots
R6, R7, R8
- the pace slows down in the 6th round, with both fighters standing in front of each other, probing jabs and occasionally attempting an exchange, with most shots being blocked or missed. They were some interesting moments though
- In round 7, the pace was also slowed down a bit. inoue gets caught with a cross and gets frustrated so he throws donaire when they were tied up but immediately shows respect. True warriors.
- Inoue struggled at first with donaire's 1 - 1 - 2 combo but at the end inoue put on the pressure and landed good shots
- in round 8, after landing a jab, inoue stood right there thinking he was out of punching range, but donair lands a straight cross that broke inoue's nose
- 0:42: in round 8. donaire landed a flush left uppercut during an inside exchange, following it up with a left hook that missed
R9:
- the pace picked up a bit in this round, with inoue moving more after taking decent shots in round 8, getting back to his stick and move tactics
- 1:59: donaire landed a neck snapping jab, forcing inoue on the ropes but he escaped and donaire kept the pressure until inoue threw a jab, and donaire countered it with a right hook that hurt inoue. But the latter managed to smother and dodge the incoming shots
- the pace slowed down after that, leaving room for inoue to recover
R10
- this round starts dynamically with inoue doing his usual stick and move, donaire also landing decent shots
- 0:15: inoue hurt donaire with a right hook, he kept on the pressure after that landing good punches until the round ended
R11
- 2:43: inoue lands decent straight hands
- Both fighters are going toe to toe exchanging heavy punches
- 1:55: inoue throws a jab and right uppercut that both missed, but he follows up with a left hook to the body that knocks down donaire.
- After the count inoue puts real pressure on donaire and lands big shots, but donaire counters a reckless cross with a left hook that hurt inoue. But just afer moments, inoue recovers and keeps landing really heavy shots and donaire dealt with them decently
R12
- this round was a complete domination of inoue. Donaire seems to still not recovered from the last one. Though, Donaire had a spring of energy in the last moments of the round.
- the scorecards give the fight to inoue by unanimous decision. Great fight and huge heart from both fighters