WBA/IBF bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue of Japan has his arm raised by referee Russell Mora after stopping 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
MANILA, Philippines—Naoya Inoue, the IBF and WBA Super champion, is in no hurry to unify all the belts of the bantamweight division as he awaits the winner between Nonito Donaire and John Riel Casimero.
Donaire, the WBC champion, and Casimero, the WBO titleholder, will unify their championships on August 14 in Carson, California and the winner would be Inoue’s likeliest next opponent.
“I can wait out that fight,” said Inoue of the Donaire-Casimero tussle as per Boxing Scene. “I don’t have a problem waiting until they fight and then face the winner.”
“At bantamweight, those two are the only fighters who come to mind.”
Inoue’s match against Dasmariñas in Las Vegas, which he won convincingly, drew the other two champions to the venue at Virgin Hotels .
Despite his in-ring business, Inoue was aware of the presence of Donaire (41-6) and (30-4).
“It was on my mind,” said Inoue (21-0). “It served as motivation to show to them that I am here as the best bantamweight in the world.”
Inoue already owns a victory over Donaire when the two fought in November 2019 and he would’ve staked his titles against Casimero back in 2020 but that fight was scrapped because of the COVID-19 pandemic.