This content is protected Considering the elite level skill of both combatants, the crippling power of both men, the drama (Inoue's broken face and the Satanic body shot KD/KO robbery), the adjustments made by both men, and the fact that neither man took a step back... BREATHTAKING.
FUN FACT — Inoue said that it was the first time in his career that he ever initiated a clinch (when his head didn't miraculously end up in the stands from an evil right hand from Nonito). Edit: Inoue's wrong as he did initiate a clinch in Round 2 after the orbital bone shattering left hook.
It was an amazing fight, inoue had to dig deep and use every ounce of skill he had to win that fight.
There aren't a lot of brutal wars between 2 elite power punchers with elite skills. Donaire trained harder than ever in his career and turned in a performance for the ages in a losing effort. Donaire boxed brilliantly and he didn't go left hook crazy falling all over the ring trying to land it like he has over the last few years. Dude was measured in his lethal approach. Of course, Inoue having his eye socket cracked so early in the fight might have made it a lot more competitive than it should have been. We don't know, so we must credit Donaire.
There kind of are a lot of these and better. Dig into the history. With about 100 years of decent tape, there's an embarrassment of riches. But it will probably be FOTY. I think there were maybe four as good or better just in 2012. Juan Manuel Marquez vs Manny Pacquiao IV Brandon Rios vs Mike Alvarado I Robert Guerrero vs Andre Berto Orlando Salido vs Juan Manuel Lopez II Pawel Wolak vs Delvin Rodriguez in 2011 was better. Ivan Calderon vs Giovani Segura I and Juan Manuel Marquez vs Michael Katsidis in 2010 was better. Bernard Dunne vs Ricardo Cordoba I in 2009 was better. And that's even before we get to the first three Vazquez/Marquez fights, the Barrera/Morales trilogy, and Castillo vs Corrales. We basically get at least one fight this good a year. This is the best one for this year.