WBA and IBF bantamweight champion Naoya ‘The Monster’ Inoue 21-0 (18) walked through IBF mandatory contender Michael ‘Hot and Spicy’ Dasmarinas 30-3-1 (20) in three rounds at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday night.
The win came on the same day as the unification bout between WBC boss and former Inoue victim Nonito ‘The Filipino Flash’ Donaire 41-6 (27) and WBO kingpin John Riel Casimero 30-4 (21) was announced.
The 34-year-old Casimero was scheduled to face Cuban southpaw Guillermo Rigondeaux 20-1 (13) at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California on August 14, but promoter Premier Boxing Champions replaced Rigondeaux with Donaire to create an all-Filipino showdown.
Last month Donaire, 38, dominated previously undefeated French southpaw Nordine Oubaali 17-1 (12) to claim the green belt with a fourth-round knockout at the same venue where he will face Casimero.
He previously lost a competitive fight with Japanese superstar Inoue, 28, going down by scores of 117-109, 114-113 and 116-111 in the final of the World Boxing Super Series at the Saitama Super Arena in Japan in November 2019.
Inoue rolled over Filipino southpaw Dasmarinas on Saturday night, breaking him down before stopping him with a body shot.
“Against the number one ranked fighter, Dasmarinas, I think I had a great win,” Inoue said.
“I prepare myself to knock them out, whether with a head shot or a body shot. I came prepared and to get a win by knockout is good for me.
“The first round, I just wanted to see what he had. It depended on how he came out, and after a little while, yeah, I thought I could get him out.
“Getting the win makes me smile, but to be able to fight the winner of Casimero and Donaire, that brings me another smile.”
Casimero watched the fight from ringside and praised Inoue for the win.
“It was a great performance by Naoya Inoue,” Casimero said. “Michael Dasmarinas fought scared and showed too much respect. But it was great seeing Naoya Inoue live.
“As of this moment, my focus is on Donaire. After that, I will take care of Naoya Inoue.”
Promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank said: “Naoya Inoue is a unique force of nature inside that ring. Another incredible performance from ‘The Monster’. We are seeing a great fighter at work here, and he is only going to get better.”
On the undercard WBO super featherweight champion Mikaela Mayer 15-0 (5) outscored Erica Farias 26-5 (10) by scores of 97-93 and 98-92 twice.
In other action former WBO super bantamweight champion Isaac Dogboe 22-2 (15) sneaked over the line with a 10-round majority decision victory over Adam ‘Blunose’ Lopez 15-3 (6) in their featherweight bout. The scores were 95-95, 97-93 and 96-94.
Rio Olympian Lindolfo Delgado 12-0 (11) was taken the distance for the first time in his four-year pro career with an eight-round decision over Salvador Briceno 17-7 (11). The junior welterweight prospect won by scores of 80-72, 79-73 and 79-73.
Lightweight Eric Puente 6-0 bounced off the canvas to take a six-round unanimous win over Jose Antonio Meza 7-6 (2) by scores of 57-56, 58-55 and 58-55.
Junior welterweight Omar Rosario 4-0 (2) had an easy night against JJ Mariano 3-1 (2), stopping him in four.
