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Pinoy challenger Dasmariñas intent on unseating Japanese boxing champ amid odds

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<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O2xBDLc6E0g?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>Filipino world-title challenger Michael Dasmariñas faces immense odds when he takes on Japanese Naoya Inoue for two world bantamweight belts on Sunday (Manila time) in Las Vegas.</p><p>Both fighters made the 118-pound limit on the eve of their 12-round WBA-IBF bantamweight title clash.</p><p>The Camarines Sur-born Dasmariñas (30-2-1, 20 KOs) tipped the scales at 117.4 pounds, while Inoue (20-0, 17 KOs) made it exactly at 118.</p><p>The fight, set at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, is the biggest in Dasmariñas&#x27; career and the Filipino is eager to prove in front of American fans he is capable of upsetting the Japanese superstar.</p><p>He earned the mandatory-challenger status via unanimous decision win over Kenny Demecillo in March 2019. </p><p>&quot;Gagawin natin ang lahat sa laban. Nag-training naman tayo kaya may chance manalo,&quot; Dasmariñas said. </p><p>&quot;I hope ipagkaloob sa atin (ang panalo). Basta ginawa ko ang lahat ng makakaya natin (sa training).&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/18/21/boxing-michael-dasmarias-now-in-vegas-for-world-title-clash-with-inoue">Boxing: Michael Dasmariñas now in Vegas for world-title clash with Inoue</a></li></ul><div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/life/06/19/20210619-inoue-dasmarinas.jpg"/><figcaption>WBA and IBF bantamweight world champion Naoya Inoue of Japan poses with Michael Dasmariñas during the official weigh-in at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on June 18. <em>Steve Marcus/Getty Images/AFP</em></figcaption></figure></div><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/15/21/boxing-strategy-vs-inoue-dasmarinas-prefers-to-bare-it-in-the-ring">Boxing: Strategy vs Inoue? Dasmarinas prefers to bare it in the ring</a></li></ul><p>The last time Dasmariñas fought was in October 2019, when he stopped Thailand&#x27;s Artid Bamrungauea in 5 rounds.</p><p>Inoue, meanwhile, knocked out Australia&#x27;s Jason Moloney in December 2020. Before that, he figured in a 12-round barnburner with Nonito Donaire, beating the Filipino star on points.</p><p>Timothy Bradley, a former Manny Pacquiao rival who now works as a <a href="https://www.espn.com/boxing/insider/story/_/id/31644441/timothy-bradley-breakdown-naoya-inoue-overcome-challenges-presented-michael-dasmarinas">fight analyst on ESPN</a>, said: &quot;I think Inoue is going to put a massive amount of pressure on Dasmariñas and put him on his back foot. But Dasmariñas is no pushover, and he&#x27;s going to fight back -- he&#x27;s tall, long and rangy.&quot; </p><p>Inoue voiced his confidence Thursday about defending his IBF and WBA bantamweight world titles.</p><p>Acknowledged as one of the world&#x27;s best pound-for-pound fighters, Inoue is unbeaten over 20 bouts with 17 wins by knockout and will look to continue his perfect record against the IBF first-ranked challenger.</p><p>&quot;I hope to show all the techniques I&#x27;ve been practicing. I deliberately won&#x27;t be going for a knockout, and will beat him by dominating the flow of the bout,&quot; Inoue told a press conference.</p><p>Inoue is wary of the threat posed by his southpaw counterpart, nonetheless, who has a 30-2 record, 20 of the wins coming with knockouts, with one draw.</p><p>&quot;I think he&#x27;s a really good guy. Boxers with those positive moods tend to be the ones who bare their fangs in the ring,&quot; Inoue said of Dasmarinas.</p><p>Inoue&#x27;s latest win came on October 31 last year at MGM Grand Conference Center during his highly anticipated Vegas debut, but the seventh-round knockout of Australian challenger Moloney came behind closed doors to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.</p><p>&quot;Finally I can have a bout before the Las Vegas crowd and I&#x27;m getting great pleasure from it,&quot; Inoue said.</p><p>Inoue is a 3-weight world champion having also become WBC light flyweight and WBO super flyweight champion earlier in his career.</p><p>Russell Mora (Nevada) will serve as referee.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1710046" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>The Dasmariñas-Naoya Inoue fight on Sunday (Manila time), at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, will be for the WBA and IBF world bantamweight titles.</p>

The Dasmariñas-Naoya Inoue fight on Sunday (Manila time), at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, will be for the WBA and IBF world bantamweight titles.