Naoya Inoue drops Nonito Donaire twice for round 2 TKO

Naoya Inoue vs. Nonito Donaire 2 played out very differently than their first contest, as Inoue dropped Donaire twice for the round 2 TKO win. 

In their first meeting in 2019, Naoya Inoue dropped Nonito Donaire in round 11 with a body shot en route to a tough-fought unanimous decision victory. Inoue walked away with the IBF and WBA bantamweight titles, but with a cost.

Donaire’s punches badly damaged Inoue’s face. His right eye was a mangle of meat that poured blood. His blood-smeared face concealed several orbital bone breaks that, luckily, did not require surgery.

It was the first time Inoue’s face was rearranged in victory through his undefeated boxing career, but he didn’t have much to worry about in the rematch.

Inoue smashed Donaire to bits in their second go-around on June 7 in Japan, and it wasn’t even close. Donaire hit the deck twice before the contest was mercifully stopped in round 2.

Inoue (23-0, 20 KOs) made his way to the ring first, accompanied by a live guitar solo by Tomoyasu Hotei that provided some energy. Hotei played along to the track “Battle Without Honor or Humanity” from Kill Bill, which helped add to the war vibe around the Saitama Super Arena.

Donaire (42-7, 28 KOs) came to the ring second as the challenger on the road. The national anthems for each fighter’s home country played, and the fight was on.

Naoya Inoue dropped Nonito Donaire in rounds 1 and 2 to force the round 2 TKO stoppage

Round 1 started strategically for Inoue and Donaire. Inoue danced on the outside as Donaire advanced, but Inoue’s jab often scored, giving him the early lead.

As the round was coming to a close, Inoue shocked Donaire with a right cross that landed on Donaire’s temple. Donaire fell on the seat of his pants, giving Inoue an added point.

Donaire got up as the bell rang and came out firing in round 2. Inoue answered back with left hooks that had Donaire trapped on the ropes. Donaire escaped and tried to apply pressure but ate an Inoue left hook that hurt.

Donaire was left reeling, and Inoue smelled blood in the water. He jumped on Donaire and nailed him with two right crosses punctuated by a left hook that dropped Donaire for the second time.

Donaire fell flat on his back this time, badly hurt. The referee immediately waved the fight off, giving Inoue the round 2 TKO victory in a time of 1:24.

Inoue snatched Donaire’s WBC bantamweight title to go along with his IBF and WBA belts, giving him dominant control over the division. Paul Butler is the only other titleholder with the WBO belt.

At 39 years old, Donaire’s disappointing showing against Inoue might be the final performance of his career. On the other hand, Inoue is poised to become the undisputed bantamweight champion if he can nail down a fight date with Butler.