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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Boxing devider Donaire banks on improvement ahead of Inoue rematch

Donaire banks on improvement ahead of Inoue rematch

Published May 31, 2022 03:26 pm

Nonito Donaire is oozing with confidence ahead of his rematch against Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue at the Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on June 7.

WBC bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (AFP)

"Inoue has improved a little bit, but I think the biggest improvement has been in me," Donaire told Probellum.com.

"I’ve fought the better guys compared to him since we fought. He’s still learning to be better but for me, I’m learning to ascend to a different realm in terms of boxing IQ and boxing ability," said the 39-year-old Donaire, who has 42 wins built on 28 knockouts and six losses.

READ: Donaire confident ahead of Inoue super bout: I know I can defeat him

Since losing in their first encounter last November 2019, Donaire went inactive the entire pandemic year of 2020 before coming back in May 2021.

In his comeback fight, Donaire dethroned Frenchman Nordine Oubaali to capture the World Boxing Council bantamweight title.

Seven months later in the same year, the Bohol native boxing champion followed up his triumph with a successful title defense against compatriot Reymart Gaballo in December 2021.

In both bouts, Donaire won via fourth-round knockout.

"And my body is on a different level now as well," added Donaire. "I do believe that he is getting better, but we will see who is better on June 7."

Inoue, for his part, had defeated the likes of Jason Moloney, Michael Dasmarinas, and Aran Dipaen to retain his Super World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF), and The Ring bantamweight titles.

All bouts also ended up with KOs while Dipaen suffered an eighth-round TKO as the 29-year-old Inoue improved to a perfect 22-0 record with 19 KOs.

Still, the "Filipino Flash" felt the sense of adrenaline flowing in his veins the first time he fought with the Japanese "Monster."

"When I finished the last fight, I instantly had a feeling of: ‘I can beat this guy, I’ve got to get the rematch,'" said Donaire. "Right off the bat when I was walking into the locker room after the fight."

The four-division world boxing champion also expressed gratitude to his current promoter Richard Schaefer of Probellum for the guidance and paving the way for the right matches he needed for the Inoue rematch.

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