Inoue vs Donaire 2 LIVE: Result and reaction after Inoue lands huge knockout
Follow reaction after Inoue claims three world titles with a second-round KO in the bantamweight rematch
Naoya Inoue stopped Nonito Donaire midway through the second round on Tuesday night to emphatically win their rematch and unify three bantamweight world titles.
Inoue (23-0, 20 KOs) wasted no time in his second meeting with Donaire, knocking down the veteran champion at the end of the first round and again midway through the second. Inoue’s relentless pressure and power ended the fight at 1:24 in Saitama Super Arena outside Tokyo. He adds Donaire’s WBC belt to his own WBA and IBF straps with his fourth consecutive stoppage victory. The Japanese star is considered one of the world’s top pound-for-pound talents and now hopes to unify all four major bantamweight titles if he can land a fight with WBO bantamweight champ Paul Butler later this year.
Inoue abruptly dropped Donaire with a short right hand moments before the bell to end the first round. Donaire got up comfortably, but Inoue piled on the pressure in the second round and hurt his opponent with a series of accurate shots. After a short left hand put Donaire on wobbly legs in the center of the ring early in the second round, Inoue finished him in the corner with a right-left combination that dropped Donaire to his back on the canvas.
Inoue vs Donaire 2
T Inoue vs Furuhashi – Round 12
Final frame!
The super-bantamweights fight in close, and it’s T Inoue who lands the cleaner shots – uppercuts, as you’d expect from him!
Big right hook from Furuhashi, though!
Good head movement from both men now.
We’ll go to the judges’ scorecards after a fine contest...
Inoue vs Donaire 2
T Inoue vs Furuhashi – Round 11
Furuhashi looks to press forward again, but T Inoue responds with a flurry of short counter shots. He’s keeping his punches nice and tight.
He propels a left hook into the ribs of Furuhashi and it makes a sickening slap upon impact! The crowd heard that one.
Inoue vs Donaire 2
T Inoue vs Furuhashi – Round 10
Into the final three rounds.
Speed and variety on show from T Inoue as he puts together a five-punch combination, before again circling away from Furuhashi.
T Inoue seems to have gotten a second wind, while Furuhashi may just be tiring a *little bit* now.
Furuhashi seems to land a big overhand left while under pressure from T Inoue, but it does not faze his opponent.
Inoue vs Donaire 2
T Inoue vs Furuhashi – Round 9
A couple of left hooks get through for Furuhashi, before T Inoue holds his opponent and circles away from the ropes.
He’s soon backed up but times a right straight nicely! It snaps back the head of Furuhashi.
Inoue vs Donaire 2
T Inoue vs Furuhashi – Round 8
T Inoue has essentially fought this entire contest moving backwards.
He briefly competes on the front foot now, though, getting in close and launching mean hooks into the ribs of Furuhashi. This is better from T Inoue.
Again he’s forced to move backwards, but he times a crisp uppercut – and another! T Inoue seems to have rediscovered his rhythm.
Furuhashi gets back to his preferred position, however, and unleashes a series of shots to the body and head of T Inoue!
Some great head movement by T Inoue, though, to evade a lot of those punches!
Inoue vs Donaire 2
T Inoue vs Furuhashi – Round 7
Again Furuhashi throws a combination to the body of T Inoue, who seems to be slowing down somewhat...
T Inoue looks for a counter jab to fend off his opponent, but it’s wide of the mark.
There’s a brief pause in the action as T Inoue seems to have been on the receiving end of an accidental low blow.
The round resumes, and T Inoue fires off a slick one-two to the head of Furuhashi.
Right uppercuts and left hooks land for T Inoue now. They’ve been his best strikes of the fight. A good end to a tough round for him.
Inoue vs Donaire 2
T Inoue vs Furuhashi – Round 6
The pattern of the fight continues as we reach the midway point of the bout.
Plenty of energy and zeal from Furuhashi, and he ends the round with a fine combination.
Is he slowly turning this into the kind of contest that he wants? He might just be...
Inoue vs Donaire 2
T Inoue vs Furuhashi – Round 5
Furuhashi picks up where he left off in the fourth round, unloading fast hooks into the midriff of T Inoue.
T Inoue finds some space and leads Furuhashi to walk onto a sharp jab, though. The pair hold one another in close, and Furuhashi throws a couple of uppercuts on the inside.
Again, however, he steps onto a piercing jab after the super-bantamweights separate.
Furuhashi is still eating lead uppercuts, too. He’s not made any clear adjustments to fend off that specific punch.
Again he flings hooks to the body of T Inoue, though, refusing to wilt.
Inoue vs Donaire 2
T Inoue vs Furuhashi – Round 4
More of the same from Furuhashi, who comes forward but is largely on the receiving end of punches.
A short left hook connects for T Inoue and draws a noticeable reaction from the crowd.
One-two, left hook from T Inoue. Furuhashi responds with arguably his best spell so far, however, mixing up shots with – you guessed it – T Inoue backed up against the ropes.
Inoue vs Donaire 2
T Inoue vs Furuhashi – Round 3
Another uppercut lands for T Inoue.
Furuhashi pursues him and presses him back to the ropes again, but T Inoue’s counter shots are on point right now.
A short right hand and left hook upstairs seem to hurt Furuhashi! Then a brutal right hook to the body.
Three right uppercuts in a row from T Inoue now! Wow! He’s landing them at will.
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