{"id":40377,"date":"2022-06-07T13:17:05","date_gmt":"2022-06-07T13:17:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/naoya-inoue-vs-nonito-donaire-2-fight-prediction-undercard-start-time-odds-preview-expert-pick-2\/"},"modified":"2022-06-07T13:17:05","modified_gmt":"2022-06-07T13:17:05","slug":"naoya-inoue-vs-nonito-donaire-2-fight-prediction-undercard-start-time-odds-preview-expert-pick-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/naoya-inoue-vs-nonito-donaire-2-fight-prediction-undercard-start-time-odds-preview-expert-pick-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Naoya Inoue vs. Nonito Donaire 2: Fight prediction, undercard, start time, odds, preview, expert pick"},"content":{"rendered":"
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One of the best fights in the last few years is set for its second chapter. Two of the best bantamweights of this era will throw down in Japan on Tuesday when unified champion Naoya Inoue takes on WBC titleholder Nonito Donaire at the Saitama Arena (5 am ET, ESPN +<\/strong>). The pair first met in 2019 in a bout hailed as the best of the year to conclude the World Boxing Super Series tournament in the 118-pound division. <\/p>\n

Donaire (42-6, 28 KO) entered the tournament thought by many to be well past his prime and having lost bouts to Jessie Magdaleno and Carl Frampton in two of his last three. While Donaire won his first two fights in the WBSS tournament, he did not enter the finals with Inoue having calmed many concerns over his current form di lui. The first round saw him defeat Ryan Burnett after Burnett suffered a back injury just four rounds into the fight and the semifinal bout came against Stephon Young who was a late replacement for Zolani Tete.<\/p>\n

But, when given his shot at Inoue, one of the best fighters in the world, Donaire showed he still held many of the skills that saw him win 30 consecutive fights from 2001 to 2012, a stretch where he won world titles at flyweight, super flyweight, bantamweight and super bantamweight. In his 35th pro fight, Donaire also added a world title at featherweight to his already impressive collection of him.<\/p>\n

“I went in there with so many vulnerabilities and not really caring about anything else but just brawling,” Donaire said in an interview with Yahoo Sports. “This time, I’m bringing everything I am, from a guy with speed, a guy who can counter, a guy who can think and, yeah, a guy who can brawl. I’m going to bring everything that’s in my skill set to the fight this time instead of just going out and brawling. “<\/p>\n

The speed of Inoue (22-0, 19 KO) was a major factor in the bout with Donaire, but Donaire never backed down and showcased a brutal right hand in addition to his trademark left hook. Both men would hurt the other throughout the battle before Inoue was able to pull away late, including with a knockdown on a body shot in Round 11. Inoue would ultimately win the fight by scores of 114-113, 116-111, and 117- 109, but Donaire’s performance showed he had plenty left to offer inside the ring.<\/p>\n

Can’t get enough boxing and MMA? Get the latest in the world of combat sports from two of the best in the business. <\/em><\/strong>Subscribe to Morning Kombat with Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell<\/em><\/strong> for the best analysis and in-depth news.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n