Naoya Inoue-Nonito Donaire Rematch Targeted For April

A bantamweight title unification bout between WBA, IBF, and The Ring champion Naoya Inoue and WBC champ, Nonito Donaire, is being targeted for April in Japan.

Boxing Scene’s Manouk Akopyan was the first to report the news of the matchup being in the works, confirming it with Donaire’s promoter Richard Schaefer who said the following about the current plans to make the rematch between the two bantamweight stars. 

“This is definitely a fight we would love to do and Nonito would love to have it as well. We don’t have a problem going to Japan. Donaire has the balls to go into the lion’s den again. This is one of the biggest fights you can make in the sport,” said Schaefer. “I can’t speak on behalf of Inoue, but I know that’s the fight he wants as well. I’ve always believed that when there is a big fight to be made, you make it – and this is a big fight. I am going to exhaust every resource and will not leave any stone unturned to pull off this fight. This is what Nonito and the fight fans want. We as a sport need to deliver it. I believe we’ll get it done. Both guys have only gotten bigger since that fight, and probably even better, which is interesting to say especially in regard to Nonito.”

Inoue is undefeated as a pro at 22-0 and is coming off of an eighth-round TKO win over Aran Dipaen in his last outing, whereas Donaire on the other hand is 42-6 as a pro and the 39-year old Filipino legend is coming off of a fourth-round knockout victory against Reymart Gaballo in his last appearance. Inoue and Donaire initially met back in November 2019 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan in what was considered by many the best fight of that year, and Inoue ultimately taking the bout with a unanimous decision victory.

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