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Boxing: 'Monster' Inoue to face Donaire in sequel to boxing classic

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="From Donaire" s="" Instagram="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/sports/03/30/donaire-ig-3302022.jpg"/><figcaption><em>From Donaire&#x27;s Instagram page</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Japan&#x27;s Naoya Inoue will face Nonito Donaire of the Philippines in a bantamweight title unification fight in Japan in June, adding a sequel to their classic 2019 encounter.</p><p>The unbeaten Inoue&#x27;s WBA and IBF titles and Donaire&#x27;s WBC belt will all be on the line when they meet on June 7 in Saitama, the same venue where Inoue beat Donaire three years ago at the World Boxing Super Series.</p><p>That bout was hailed as one of the fights of the year and saw Inoue recover from a fractured eye socket and double vision early on to floor Donaire in the 11th round and seal a unanimous points win.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/12/21/boxing-donaire-kos-gaballo-to-retain-wbc-title">Boxing: Donaire KOs Gaballo to retain WBC title</a></li></ul><p>The ferocious-punching Inoue, known as &quot;Monster&quot; and regarded as one of boxing&#x27;s best pound-for-pound fighters, is unbeaten in all his 22 bouts, winning 19 by knockout.</p><p>He said the rematch with Donaire (42-6) &quot;feels like we&#x27;re continuing... the 13th round&quot; after their previous fight went the distance.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m looking forward to seeing how he comes at me,&quot; Japanese media quoted Inoue, 28, as saying on Wednesday.</p><p>Inoue&#x27;s last fight was in Tokyo in December, when he defended his titles with an eighth-round technical knockout of unheralded Thai challenger Aran Dipaen.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/15/21/rachel-donaire-nominated-for-trainer-of-the-year">Rachel Donaire nominated for Trainer of the Year</a></li></ul><p>Donaire continues to impress at age 39 and retained his WBC title with a thunderous knockout of countryman Reymart Gaballo in December.</p><p>Donaire, who moved to the United States when he was 11, became the oldest world champion at 118 pounds when he beat Nordine Oubaali for the title in May 2021.</p><div><strong>amk/sah/pst</strong></div><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div>

Naoya Inoue will face Nonito Donaire in a bantamweight title unification fight in Japan in June, adding a sequel to their classic 2019 encounter.