LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 19: Referee Russell Mora calls off the fight between WBA/IBF bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue (R) of Japan and Michael Dasmarinas of the Philippines in the third round of their title fight at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on June 19, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Steve Marcus/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Steve Marcus / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Japan’s Naoya Inoue knocked Michael Dasmariñas down three times in three rounds to easily retain his WBA (Super) and IBF bantamweight belts on Saturday night.
Inoue knocked the challenger down once in the second and then twice in the third, forcing the referee to halt the onslaught at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.
And the damage begins! 😖@naoyainoue_410 goes after the liver, Dasmarinas goes to the canvas. Ouchhhh.#InoueDasmarinas | LIVE NOW on ESPN pic.twitter.com/9GKMbngcMM
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) June 20, 2021
Liver … Liver … Game Over, #AndStill inside of 3 rounds.
Try to not wince while watching this. @naoyainoue_410 is just on another level. 👹🇯🇵 #InoueDasmarinas pic.twitter.com/hIl1G9MQPo
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) June 20, 2021
Inoue improved to 21-0, with 18 knockouts while Dasmariñas of the Philippines dropped to 30-3-1, with 20 KOs.
It was the first loss for Dasmariñas since losing a split decision in 2014, but it was obvious he has never faced a fighter of the magnitude of Inoue, who is considered one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the sport.
Inoue’s game plan to go to the body worked perfectly on Dasmarinas, who hardly threw any punches in rounds two and three.