The Naoya Inoue-Nonito Donaire clash in November 2019 was an instant thriller and Fight of the Year as neither man took a step back, giving boxing fans 12 rounds of scintillating fireworks en route to "The Monster" winning by unanimous decision.
On Tuesday, they return to the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan for the highly-anticipated rematch with Inoue's WBA and IBF titles and Donaire's WBC belt on the line in what's bound to be an explosive bantamweight world championship unification fight Tuesday morning E.T.
Staring down another possible Fight of the Year, DAZN listed the keys to victory for both fighters.
Nonito Donaire's keys to victory
Counterpunch in traffic
There was a moment in the ninth round of their 2019 classic when Inoue flicked out a left jab and Donaire almost simultaneously launched a counter right hook. The shot crashed against Inoue’s jaw and buckled his knees with a lunging left hook just missing its mark to follow. Nevertheless, Inoue’s legs were weakened and he needed to get on his bicycle around the ring to rejuvenate them. Donaire must continue to counterpunch through traffic in this rematch. A counterpunch connecting and turned into a combination are among Donaire's best options to have his hand raised in what would be another hallmark in his spectacular career.
Punch off the clinch
Donaire had success in close quarters and punching off the clinch against Inoue. The problem is he didn’t utilize the clinch as often as he should’ve. Take for instance a brief moment at the 1:35 mark of the ninth round, when Inoue and Donaire became entangled and the latter blasted the Japanese star with a compact left hook to the head. Those shots add up and take their toll over the course of a fight. Donaire should look to deliver more of those punches off the clinch. A glancing right uppercut from a push off could be a key weapon of choice for the veteran as well. More than anything, clinching could bode well in slowing down the bout and forcing the 29-year-old Inoue to trudge through a dogfight.
More head movement
It’s hard to change a boxer 39-years-old and nearly 50 pro fights in. And a lot of that comes with age and being set in one’s ways. After all, in Donaire’s case that has accounted for 42 wins and six losses across a glorious career. So, why change now? However, if “The Filipino Flash” can muster even the slightest head movement, it could spell the difference between winning and losing this rematch.
The original Inoue-Donaire clash had the latter being stationary far too often which spelled open target practice for “The Monster’s” diverse portfolio of punches. Evading even a few devastating punches with some subtle head movement could help Donaire immensely. However, judging from their first fight, that might be easier said than done.
Naoya Inoue's keys to victory
More commitment to the body, especially the left hook
Inoue and Donaire were in engaged in such enthralling headhunting that they each neglected attacking the body over large stretches of their first fight. But when “The Monster” did deposit shots to the body, he found paydirt. During the eighth round, a left hook to the body hurt Donaire, though the veteran did a good job of not visibly showing his dismay. Midway through the 11, Inoue followed a scraping right uppercut with a thudding left hook to the body. The liver shot made the then-36-year-old Donaire wince as he attempted to jog off the pain. Donaire made it to two corners before dropping down on his hands and knees, just managing to make it up to his feet to beat the count. Honestly, judging from Donaire’s body language, the ref could have ended the bout right then and there to little argument. With Donaire being a few years older at 39 now, it would be in Inoue’s best interest to test the body more and earlier in the sequel.
Power jab to keep Donaire at bay
Early dedication to the body could have the future Hall of Famer Donaire dropping his guard in anticipation. That’s when Inoue (22-0, 19 knockouts) can punish him further with a power jab. When Inoue threw the shot in their first fight and connected, Donaire felt its effects. But the Japanese star strayed away from it over many sequences and appeased Donaire by willingly engaging in fiery exchanges. Had Inoue flicked out the jab during opportune spots, he might have kept Donaire at bay more and possibly even carved out enough inroads to prevent the bout from going the distance.
Anticipate the counter
Inoue stung Donaire with plenty of stinging combinations and just missed on some right uppercuts that he does a great job of sitting on. However, he got stung on the opposite end especially when Donaire punched in traffic with counters. Inoue simply knowing and being prepared for that, in addition to being relentless early on, could be enough to take the wind out of an aging but still dangerous Donaire who’s in the twilight of his career.