WBSS Final : Naoya Inoue Decisions Nonito Donaire Wins Ali Trophy
WBSS Final : Naoya Inoue Decisions Nonito Donaire Wins Ali Trophy
Inoue was taken the distance for the first time in eight fights by the veteran four division champion Donaire, who was so excellent for a fighter of his age and drew praises from the young fighter.
“I think Donaire is a true champion,” Inoue told announcer Ray Flores in the ring. “He’s very strong. I [was] victorious, but I’m not the greatest all time yet. I think I have to go over [the fight] and get stronger. Next year and on, I’ll keep fighting, I’ll [be] victorious and I wanna be the strongest of all time”
Inoue landed on the canvas in the seventh after being sent to the ropes and some kind of entanglement and in the eight Inoue bleed from his nose and the cut over his right eyelid. Donaire wobbled Inoue in the ninth, stunned the Japanese so much that he was forced to go for a clinch.
Inoue landed lots of shots in the final minutes of the 10th round but was held off by Donaire, who snapped his head backwards but this didn’t stop the Japanese, who was all out for a KO and continued his onslaught in the eleventh till with a body shot forced Donaire to take a knee in the middle of the eleventh round.
Donaire waited till the ninth count by the referee before making it to his feet and despite being damaged was able to withstand Inoue’s push for a KO in the final bell.