TOKYO TRAVELS
Jamie Mcdonnell is off to Japan to face the fearsome “Monster” Naoya Inoue
STOPPING Frenchman Jerome Arnould in 10 rounds on away turf to become European champion in March 2010 was a notable accomplishment for Jamie Mcdonnell. The Doncaster bantamweight pulled off an even more eye-catching win in May 2015 when he unanimously outscored the touted Tomoki Kameda in Texas on a show where the Japanese was very much the home favourite. Mcdonnell repeated this impressive result in a rematch four months later, once more in the Lone Star State.
It is clear that the Englishman thrives when competing on hostile foreign land, but even for this daring road warrior, a trip to Tokyo to take on the best boxer in Japan – and one of the top pound-for-pounders on the planet – is another level altogether. Nevertheless, this is exactly what Mcdonnell will do this Friday (May 25) when he travels to the Ota-city General Gymnasium to face Yokohama “Monster” Naoya Inoue in a 12-rounder, live on Sky Sports Action.
Mcdonnell, 29-21 (13) 1NC, will be defending his secondary WBA bantam belt against Inoue, who is making his debut at 118lbs, having previously reigned as WBC king at light-flyweight and WBO boss at super-fly. The 25-yearold challenger boasts an unblemished 15-0 ledger, with a frightening 13 of his victories coming by way of stoppage or knockout. Dominant triumphs over respected names in Ryoichi Taguchi, Adrian Hernandez, Omar Narvaez and Kohei Kono have seen Inoue establish himself as one of the sport’s most feared fighters, although he has been guilty of feasting on overmatched foes at times, too. Last time out in December, Naoya terrorised the tough but-out-gunned Yoan Boyeaux, halting him in three. The win marked Inoue’s seventh successful defence of his 115lb world title, yet it was a real shame for boxing fans that we never got to see him mix it with his fellow standout super-flyweight stars, such as Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, Roman Gonzalez and Juan Francisco Estrada. Nevertheless, despite being unable to secure a super-fly superfight, Inoue should be commended for moving up to bantamweight to oppose a far
naturally bigger man – and world-class operator – in Mcdonnell.
Although Jamie is five inches taller than the 5ft 5in Inoue, and also has a longer reach by over five inches, similar physical advantages largely failed to transfer to success in the ring against the diminutive Liborio Solis. When Mcdonnell met the former WBA superflyweight titlist in November 2016, he failed to get his usually brilliant jab going, and was often pushed back. The Brit received a unanimous decision, but the scorecards did not do Solis justice.
The pair faced off again a year later, in what was Mcdonnell’s sole appearance during a frustrating and unproductive 2017. Unfortunately, the fight was over before it could ever really begin, as an unintentional headbutt resulted in Jamie suffering a nasty cut over his left eye, leading the referee to call a No Contest in the third round.
The victory over Solis in their initial encounter was Mcdonnell’s 21st in a row, having not lost since way back in March 2008, when he was just pipped over eight by Lee Haskins who, like Jamie, would go on to become IBF bantamweight champion. Mcdonnell claimed the crown on a majority verdict five years ago against then-unbeaten puncher Julio Ceja, before being harshly stripped of the title less than six months later for failing to agree to a mandatory defence.
The seasoned Mcdonnell, 32, who can also name EX-IBF bantam ruler Stuart Hall as one of his victims, has won English, British, Commonwealth, European and world honours during a decorated career. Inoue has seen far less action than his opponent as a professional (91 rounds compared to 245), but is nonetheless an experienced campaigner at the top level. In fact, twothirds of his pro outings have been world title matches. Mcdonnell, though, is unmoved by these striking statistics.
“Inoue looks sharp and can obviously bang, but that doesn’t scare me. I think it scares a lot of people, but not me,” Jamie stated. “I’ve been there and done it. I don’t feel out of my depth. If anything, I feel more motivated than ever. I’ve got everything to prove in this fight. Everyone is going to write me off, I know they will, but he won’t have been in with anyone like me.
“When you watch me on Youtube, you just think, ‘Look at this lanky thing’. I don’t look anything special. But then I get in there with you and you feel the strength and the pace. He’ll be looking at me now and thinking, ‘Yeah, I’ll smash this kid’. That’s what they all think. It’s a different story when we’re in there, though. I go to work. I’ll box Inoue’s head off.”
Mcdonnell’s coach, Dave Coldwell, is similarly confident heading into his charge’s demanding assignment.
The trainer said: “We know how hard a fight it is, but it’s nothing that me or Jamie haven’t heard before. He loves it when people are telling him he’s up against it and that he’s got no chance, because that brings the best out in him.
“We’re going in with a quality fighter, but that’s what Jamie has been doing for a long time now, and when he goes up in class, you usually see the best version of him. He knows what it’s like to go to away territory and beat someone he wasn’t fancied to – he’s made a career out of it, so the travelling won’t impact him in the slightest. He’ll be heading into this ready to cause a massive upset and show everyone just what a quality fighter he really is.”
Under the guidance of his father/ trainer Shingo Inoue, Naoya has built on a fine amateur career, during which he compiled a 75-6 (48) record and boxed at a high international standard both as a Youth and Senior. The Japanese is adept at controlling the distance and manoeuvring his rivals where he wants them.
Leading off a fast jab, he glides forward incessantly and backs his adversaries up to the ropes. Once in range, he tucks up behind a tight guard to avoid retaliatory shots, before unleashing swift, precise blows from both of his destructive fists, including uppercuts, overhand strikes and one-twos. His honey punch, however, is unquestionably the left hook to the liver.
Unlike the heavy-handed Inoue, Mcdonnell is not known as a hefty hitter. What he does possess, though, is a relentless engine and tireless work rate, as well as clever footwork. The wiry Yorkshireman shoots out long jabs from centre ring, followed by accurate right crosses and quick bursts. He has been down once in the past (in the first Kameda clash), but has never been stopped.
It will take Inoue some time to navigate past his rangy opponent’s lengthy levers, but once he begins to hit the target with his debilitating body shots, Mcdonnell’s vibrancy will start to fade. After a valiant showing from the visitor, expect Inoue’s famed left hook downstairs to end matters around the eighth.
In the co-feature, another undefeated Japanese takes to the ring, as Uji’s Ken
Shiro, 12-0 (6), renews hostilities with Mexico City southpaw Ganigan Lopez, 29-7 (18).
One year ago, also in Japan, Shiro took on Lopez for the Mexican’s WBC lightflyweight strap. Following 12 rounds of nip-and-tuck action, the challenger was awarded a tight majority decision by scores of 114-114 and 115-113 twice. Due to the close and competitive nature of the bout, a rematch for the title was mooted almost immediately, and so it has proved.
Veteran 36-year-old Lopez is a decade older than his Asian adversary, having turned pro way back in 2003. Shiro is far less experienced than Ganigan, but is undoubtedly the fresher of the two. This could prove the difference, with Shiro’s energetic combinations earning him a clearer win on points this time.
THE VERDICT Mcdonnell deserves credit for embarking on this daunting Tokyo trip. As the saying goes, ‘No guts, no glory’.