Nonito Gonzales Donaire Jr. vs. Naoya Inoue

November 7th @ Super Arena in Saitama. Unification of the WBA bantamweight title (2nd defense of Donaire) and IBF bantamweight title (1st defense of Inoue), with the Ring Magazine 118lb title on the line as well. In the co-main event, Nordine Oubaali will make a second defense of the WBC title against Naoya's brother Takuma, who is that org's current interim champ. #smallworld

 

This might be the next scheduled boxing match about which I actually give half a rat's scruffy ass cheek.

https://boxrec.com/en/schedule

The rest of September is dreadfully barren, highlighted perhaps by Fury vs. Wallin of all things.

October at least has GGG vs. Derevyanchenko and Usyk vs. Spong, but those outcomes (along with Spence vs. Porter at this month's end) are fairly damn predictable...as, some might argue, is even this bantamweight unification showdown (I guess depending on how much faith you have in the Monster, or how diminished your faith in the Flash). There's nothing juicy in the offing. 2019 is going out with a whimper. The only bit of high-level unpredictability we have left is AJ vs. Ruiz II, and we have to wait until a few weeks before Xmas for that. Just a really poor fourth quarter, even allowing that usually this same time of year there's a big slowdown.

 

If he somehow bags this upset, would it nudge Donaire up close to Pac level ...maybe riding his ass right alongside his namesake Flash Elorde and Pancho Villa for national GOAT honors?

As it stands most already consider Nonito the clear #2 of this generation, depending on how far back you define it (and how you rate Peñalosa).

 

...I mean, potentially Inoue, depending on what else he was able to do after the hypothetical loss to Donaire.

He's already probably HOF (meaning Naoya) ...dominant unbeaten three-weight champ in 18 fights?

 

Yeah but I didn't ask if Donaire would surpass Pac. I asked if he would be leading the pack that's nipping at Pac's heels.