Naoya Inoue-Nonito Donaire rematch set for June 7, Japan

Naoya Inoue and Nonito Donaire are set for round 25.

FightNights.com has learned the world's best bantamweights are officially set for their three-belt world title unification on June 7 Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The highly-anticipated sequel will be streamed live on Japan’s Amazon Prime Video.

BoxingScene.com was first to report the revelation.

Their first encounter was a unanimous pick for 2019 Fight of the Year, which saw Inoue (22-0, 19 KOs), a three-division world champion and a consensus top-three pound-for-pound fighter from Yokohama, Japan, overcome a fractured orbital bone around his right eye to drop and ultimately outpoint Donaire (42-6, 28 KOs) over 12 rounds. Donaire also cut Inoue, with a right hand in round nine, but suffered a knockdown from a vicious body shot in the 11th round of their WBA/IBF title unification and World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) 118-pound tournament final.

Philippines' Donaire, who trains in Las Vegas, has impressed since the loss. The legendary four-division became a three-time bantamweight beltholder with a fourth-round knockout of previously unbeaten WBC champion Nordine Oubaali last May 29 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. With the upset win, Donaire broke his own record as the oldest fighter in history to win a major 118-pound title, at 38 ½ years old. Donaire returned to the famed War Grounds last December with yet another fourth-round knockout, this time against then-unbeaten countryman Reymart Gaballo.

Inoue has won three fights since his triumphant performance over Donaire, albeit one could argue that none of his opponents pose quite a threat like the famed Filipino. The 27-year-old scored a seventh-round knockout of Jason Moloney in October 2020, and followed up with knockout wins over Michael Dasmarinas (TKO 3), and Aran Dipaen (TKO 8).

But with Donaire having added the green belt to his collection, the stakes could never be higher for both fighters as they once again put their bodies and their legacies on the line.