Naoya Inoue, left, and Michael Dasmariñas face off during the official weigh-in. Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank
MANILA, Philippines — Filipino challenger Michael Dasmariñas goes for a major upset when he faces Japanese champion Naoya Inoue in a bantamweight world title fight on Sunday (Manila time) in Las Vegas.
Dasmariñas and Inoue made weight Saturday, tipping the scales at 117.4 and 118 pounds, respectively.
The Bicolano southpaw is unfazed despite being a heavy underdog against the undefeated Inoue, who will defend his WBA (Super) and IBF belts.
Photo by Mikey Williams/ Top Rank
“Para sa mga fans ko diyan sa pilipinas, please support me. Prayers lang thankful na ako,” Dasmariñas said.
(For my fans in the Philippines, please support me. I’ll be thankful for just your prayers.)
“Bukas gagawin ko yung lahat ng makakaya ko sa laban. Gusto ko patunayan sa inyo na kahit underdog tayo lalaban tayo ng patayan.”
(I’ll do everything I can for tomorrow’s fight. I want to prove to all of you that I will fight to the death even though I’m the underdog.)
The 28-year-old Dasmariñas (30-2-1, 20 KOs) has not fought since October 2019 while Inoue (20-0, 17 KOs) is coming off a seventh round knockout win over Jason Moloney eight months ago.
