Naoya “Monster” Inoue and Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire put the “class” in classic. Last week, the two proud warriors delivered an epic in Saitama, Japan that boxing fans are still talking about. Remarkably, it was only after the final bell that Inoue and Donaire truly brought the best out of each other.
Unlike Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, Donaire and Inoue saved the hugging for the post-fight. After the gloves were cut off, the Japanese superstar (19-0) approached Donaire (40-6), embracing the 36-year-old Filipino American legend.
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The warm, fuzzy feelings don’t stop there. Entering the fight as a massive underdog, Donaire pledged to his toddler sons Jarel and Logan that he’d bring them back the coveted World Boxing Super Series Muhammad Ali trophy. He did everything he could to make good on that promise, even getting up from a harrowing body shot but ultimately fell short on the cards.
There’s a happy ending, however. Inoue kicked off the “season of giving” by ensuring Donaire didn’t go back to his boys empty-handed:
And they call Inoue a “Monster.” Unfortunately for the 26-year-old phenom, he fractured his orbital bone during the bout. The man responsible for the injury dialed in shortly to check up the Japanese star:
From Logan Paul to WBC’s “franchise champions,” there’s a lot of BS boxing throws our way. Moments like Inoue vs. Donaire remind us of just why we stick around. From the gripping action to the exceptional humanity, the fight was everything good and pure about the “sweet science”— and life.
