We look back at a WBSS fight for the history books: Inoue vs Donaire for the Muhammad Ali Trophy.
As Kalle Sauerland, Chief Boxing Officer of the WBSS said after 12 rounds of non-stop action at the Saitama Super Arena: “We’ve seen ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’, ‘The Thrilla in Manila’ and now we’ve seen the ‘Drama in Saitama’.”
On November 7, 2019, Inoue overcame the courageous Donaire to claim a points victory.
The Japanese fighter’s fearsome reputation and unbeaten record were at risk when Donaire mounted a defiant late assault, but the badly cut Inoue then blasted the Filipino to the canvas to seal a unanimous decision with scores of 116-111, 117-109, and 114-113 in Japan.
It was no surprise that Inoue-Donaire was the consensus FOTY of 2019.
Check out the best tributes and awards from the world’s leading sports media.
ESPN – Fight of the Year: Naoya Inoue vs Nonito Donaire, Bantamweight Muhammad Ali Trophy Final
“…It was a mesmerizing, punishing battle from start to finish between two master boxers whose inclination is to stand and fight. They dispensed with the sweet science and rumbled in an enthralling and superb fight, which Inoue won 117-109, 116-111, and 114-113 on the scorecards — but not before he had to overcome tremendous adversity for the first time in his career.”
Yahoo Sports – Fight of the Year: Naoya Inoue vs Nonito Donaire, Bantamweight Muhammad Ali Trophy Final
“… The drama unfolding before a huge crowd was remarkable, as the momentum shifted and neither man backed down. It was a match that had everything, and it’s the choice as the 2019 Yahoo Sports Fight of the Year.”
Ring Magazine – Fight of the Year: Naoya Inoue vs Nonito Donaire, Bantamweight Muhammad Ali Trophy Final
“… Inoue knocked out Emmanuel Rodriguez in two rounds to win IBF and Ring titles in a World Boxing Super Series semifinal in May. Six months later the champion outpointed Nonito Donaire in the final, picking up the WBA belt and the Ali trophy in a modern classic. Inoue-Donaire took the “Fight of the Year” award.”
Boxing News – Fight of the Year: Naoya Inoue vs Nonito Donaire, Bantamweight Muhammad Ali Trophy Final
“… The WBSS delivered again as the bantamweight finalists put on a bedazzling showcase of boxing at its finest in Japan, with a unanimous triumph leaving Inoue as the WBA and IBF king.”
Eastside Boxing – Fight of the Year: Naoya Inoue vs Nonito Donaire, Bantamweight Muhammad Ali Trophy Final
“… NAOYA INOUE’s riveting win over NONITO DONAIRE is our consensus pick for 2019 Fight of the Year. This bantamweight bout had six key elements that produce a timeless bout: (1) big momentum shifts; (2) dramatic moments; (3) limited fouling and holding; (4) who would win.
“INOUE proved that he could beat an elite opponent without having to rely solely on his vaunted power, claiming a WBA Super Bantamweight World Title and the coveted Ali Trophy with his win over DONAIRE in the World Boxing Super Series finals.”
thecomeback.com – Fight of the Year: Naoya Inoue vs Nonito Donaire, Bantamweight Muhammad Ali Trophy Final
“…If you saw it in a movie you wouldn’t believe it. A fight with a backstory so romantically improbable that any attempt to regale a non-observer with it would immediately be met with accusations of exaggeration. Hell, I myself can no longer tell where my real memory of this wondrous night in Saitama, Japan ends and where the confabulation begins.”
badlefthook.com – Fight of the Year: Naoya Inoue vs Nonito Donaire, Bantamweight Ali Trophy Final
“… an instant classic in every way.”
thesweetscience.com – Fight of the Year: Naoya Inoue vs Nonito Donaire, Bantamweight Muhammad Ali Trophy Final
“…Not that what happened Nov. 7 in Saitama, Japan, was an exact duplicate of what took place that sultry day in the Philippines (“The Thrilla in Manila”), but the bantamweight unification finale of the World Boxing Super Series, between a downsized Godzilla, 26-year-old IBF bantamweight champion Naoya “The Monster” Inoue, and thought-to-be-past-his-prime WBA titlist Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire, was an exhilarating, two-way clash that was at least somewhat reminiscent of Ali-Frazier III, and not just because of the Filipino heritage of Donaire, a Las Vegas resident who would turn 37 nine days later.”
Watch or re-watch the WBSS Season 2 Bantamweight Final, the ‘Drama in Saitama’ here