You would be hard pressed to find a more exciting and more destructive high-level boxer in the world right now than Naoya ‘The Monster’ Inoue (21-0, 18 KOs).
The WBA and IBF bantamweight champion took on mandatory challenger Michael Dasmarinas (30-3-1, 20 KOs) in Las Vegas on Saturday night, predictably installed as a heavy favorite. Just because he’s a heavy favorite doesn’t mean he isn’t a marvel to watch. It took him just three rounds to score three liver shot knockdowns and ultimately the TKO victory.
I’m not going over the top when I say that just watching these knockdowns and hearing the sound of the punches thudding against Dasmarinas is enough to make one grimace.
And the damage begins! @naoyainoue_410 goes after the liver, Dasmarinas goes to the canvas. Ouchhhh.#InoueDasmarinas | LIVE NOW on ESPN pic.twitter.com/9GKMbngcMM
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) June 20, 2021
Liver … Liver … Game Over, #AndStill inside of 3 rounds.
Try to not wince while watching this. @naoyainoue_410 is just on another level. #InoueDasmarinas pic.twitter.com/hIl1G9MQPo
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) June 20, 2021
The @naoyainoue_410 finish from ringside.
WARNING: Your entire torso will feel this thru the screen.#InoueDasmarinas | pic.twitter.com/7KegslqYKM
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) June 20, 2021
Inoue landed a preposterous 31/48 power punches and 17 body shots. And 17 body shots from Inoue is 17 too many.
With Nonito Donaire and John Riel Casimero set to face in a WBC-WBO unification bout in August, perhaps we may see the winner of that fight take on Inoue at the end of the year for undisputed champ status. Donaire took Inoue the distance in their classic back in the 2019 World Boxing Super Series final, but Inoue prevailed on the scorecards. Casimero was supposed to fight Inoue last year but the pandemic shut those plans down and they never rebooked it. Either way, Naoya Inoue is must-see television.
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