‘Fire burning’ inside Nonito Donaire ahead of Naoya Inoue rematch

IBF and WBA bantamweight boxing champion Naoya Inoue of Japan (L) and WBC champion Nonito Donaire of the Philippines (R) pose during a press event in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture on June 3, 2022 (Photo by JAPAN POOL / JIJI PRESS / AFP)

Nonito Donaire said Friday there is “a fire burning inside” of him as he prepares to face Naoya Inoue next week in the hotly-anticipated sequel to the year’s boxing classic. their 2019.

The Filipino veteran lost a decisive unanimous point to Japan’s undefeated Inoue as they faced off in Saitama, north of Tokyo, in a hailed match is one of the best of the year.

The pair are poised to rematch in a world bantamweight unification match Tuesday at the same venue, with Inoue’s WBA and IBF titles and Donaire’s WBC belt both wound up.

Donaire, 39, said his motivation was “the highest it’s ever been” as he prepared to take another hit at one of the boxers’ greatest hits.

“After the last game, there was a fire burning inside of me – motivation, the feeling that I wasn’t at my best, and that I knew I could beat him at my best,” said Donaire. during a press conference in Tokyo.

“That’s what’s inside of me going into my locker after the fight. I wouldn’t want this rematch if I didn’t think I could win this one.”

Fierce punching “monster” Inoue is undefeated in all 22 of his matches, winning 19 by knockout.

In their first fight, he recovered from an eye socket fracture and double vision from the start when he hit the Donaire floor in round 11.

Inoue said going through 12 rounds was “a positive experience” for him.

“It’s been two years and seven months since we played our first match, and now we have a rematch in a few days,” said the 29-year-old.

“I am very motivated and excited. I think everyone is very excited.”

Donaire became the oldest world champion at 118 pounds when he defeated Nordine Oubaali for the WBC bantamweight title in May 2021.

Both he and Inoue aim to unify the bantamweight titles, with newly crowned British WBO champion Paul Butler standing in their way.

Inoue said his fight with Donaire was a “stepping stone” to achieving that goal, while Donaire described it as “the biggest battle of my career.”

“I’m very, very motivated – this is the fight I’m aiming for, to accomplish everything that I haven’t accomplished in boxing,” said Donaire.

“I’ve accomplished everything in boxing except being undisputed, and this is the path to the undisputed.”

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