By Nick Giongco
Fil-Am puncher Nonito Donaire likened himself Tuesday to “a wall that needs to be climbed” two days before his clash with Japanese star Naoya ‘Monster’ Inoue in their fight for world bantamweight supremacy in Tokyo.
Nonito Donaire, left, and Japanese Naoya Inoue square off during Thursday’s press conference at Tokyo’s Grand Palace Hotel (Japan Times)
Donaire’s bold statements came during the final press conference held Tuesday afternoon at the Grand Palace Hote, with four-division world champion Donaire asserting he is up against someone in another level.
“I think the difference (with) Naoya [is he’s] a top fighter in the world, pound-for-pound,” Donaire (40-5 with 26 KOs) said as quoted by Japan Times.
“I’ve fought guys who were the best in their divisions, but not in pound-for-pound like Naoya, which is very exciting for me.”
The Donaire-Inoue showdown will be the finals for the World Boxing Super Series, a tournament that features the world’s finest 118-pounders.
Inoue (18-0 with 16 KOs) is younger by over 10 years than Donaire, who turns 37 on Dec. 16, a factor that installed the Japanese as prohibitive betting favorite. Oddsmakers have placed Inoue at -1000 ($1,000 wins $100) and Donaire +550 ($100 wins $550).
Inoue admits he had always looked up to Donaire but a changing of the guard is about to take place.
“He’s one of the fighters I’ve looked up to. I’m honored to be able to fight someone like him in the final, and I would like to make the generational change (by winning).”
The official weighin takes place Wednesday.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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