FanSided’s 2019 boxing awards and review of boxing’s best moments

2019 Fight of the Year: Naoya Inoue vs. Nonito Donaire

Like ESPN, who we concur with on three of our awards, FanSided also sees Naoya Inoue vs. Nonito Donaire as the 2019 Fight of the Year. It had everything you could want in a boxing match.

Donaire has had a brilliant career, but he’s well past his prime. Since 2014, he has had to move down divisions to remain a champion and contender.

At 37 years old, Donaire was one of the best boxers in the bantamweight division, but he struggled with Ryan Burnett in the World Boxing Super Series. Burnett lost the bout because he suffered a back injury that forced the referee to stop the fight in round 4, but he was handling Donaire up until that point.

At first glance, Donaire shouldn’t have stood much of a chance against Inoue. Inoue was the younger and faster fighter, but Donaire proved that he’s a rare talent and remained competitive despite the wear of age.

Inoue outboxed Donaire for a majority of the contest, but Donaire created a compelling fight by utilizing his experience and power. He tested Inoue’s chin time and time again and had him in serious trouble in the early going.

Inoue suffered a bad cut on his right eyelid and a broken orbital bone in round 2, but endured the damage and fought his way back into the lead on the judges’ scorecards. In round 11, Inoue knocked down Donaire with a well-placed body punch.

Donaire struggled to beat the count and barely survived the round but willed himself to continue. Ultimately, Inoue won a unanimous decision, but it was a classic war of attrition.