December 29, 2015
TOKYO, JAPAN
After a one-year hiatus, WBO junior bantamweight champ Naoya Inoue (9-0, 8 KOs), 115, Japan, returned to ring warfare and made a quick demolition of #1 contender Warlito Parenas (24-7-1, 21 KOs), 114, from Philippines, at 1:20 of the second session on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan. Inoue displayed his awesome power and decked him twice to have the referee Mike Ortega halt the lopsided affair.
Can you knock down your opposition only with a left jab? Inoue can. While he concentrated on recovering his dislocated right hand suffered in his title-winning victory over Omar Narvaez a year ago, he exclusively strengthened his left hand so effectively that he could badly hurt many name sparring partners with the magnified left. His powerful jab may be stronger than an ordinary boxer's straight right. His power is produced by his hand speed and precision as well. Now that he completely regained the right hand, he is really Hands of Stone with two guns.
When the first round started and Inoue began moving so smoothly to avert his Filipino challenger’s opening blows, the crowd expected a quick finish as they watched the young champ’s sharp lefts. Moving to-and-fro and side-by-side, Inoue quickly felt out the taller challenger who had iced 21 opponents out of 24 wins and landed some solid combinations over Warlito’s guard.
All the judges?Pat Russell, Levi Martinez and Patrick Morley?scored the first round, of course, to Inoue, ten years his junior at twenty-two. It was their first and last session that they tallied scores, and what they did next was to watch a slaughter in eighty seconds into the second stanza.
It was Inoue that landed a vicious right to the temple following quick combinations to the face and had the challenger’s knees buckled. Down he went. Referee Mike Ortega counted the mandatory eight, and Parenas barely resumed fighting but looked badly hurt. Had a same knockdown occurred in a later round, Ortega wouldn’t have hesitated counting him out then and there. But the fight had just started and people were obviously eager to watch more action. The son of legendary Gasper Ortega generously allowed them to go on for a while, but it eventually ended so soon.
Mercilessly did Inoue follow up and swam over the badly shaken Filipino, who, with a surprised look, collapsed again. The third man saw him unfit and unable to go on with such a severe punishment that he logically declared a well-received halt to end the massacre. Inoue was simply too fast, strong and powerful for the top contender as well as the WBO Asian Pacific regional champ.
The loser Parenas gloomily reviewed his abbreviated defeat, saying, “Inoue was too fast. His punches were too invisible to avert. He hit much harder than I expected. I didn’t see how to cope with such a power-punching opponent.”
The victor Inoue jubilantly said, “It’s like a perfect game. I’m happy to be back here (to the ring) to show my power. I truly thank my new wife for her support.” Inoue got married with Saya, formerly his classmate, on December 1, just a month before his first defense.
There’s a funny story on Inoue. Ex-WBA middleweight champ Shinji Takehara and former WBA super-feather and lightweight titlist Takanori Hatakeyama, who manage their T&H Gym (following their initials) together, recently admired the strength of Inoue. “Inoue might be the very best and strongest world champion ever produced in Japan, even including many greats. Of course, Inoue is much superior to us. He belongs to a much higher level than us. He is so fast, so hard-punching and so intelligent.”
Inoue has been dubbed “Monster” due to his tremendous strength. When you see him training and sparring, you may realize he deserves this seemingly exaggerated nickname. He is so smart and technical that you cannot touch him due to his fast footwork and quick reflexes, and his accurate whiplash jabs constantly keep you from landing your best shot.
Former WBA junior fly champ who registered thirteen consecutive defenses (which is the best record in Japan), Yoko Gushiken was stunnd to see a quick demolition, saying, “Inoue is tremendously fast. As his reflexes are so great, he hits his opponent just before he attempts to land punches to Inoue by putting the weight behind punches. Parenas could do nothing at all. Inoue is very strong.”
His manager/promoter Hideyuki Ohashi, formerly WBC and WBA 105-pound champ (who is now a cruiserweight), jubilantly said, “I’m happy to see Inoue come back so brilliantly. We, Inoue and I, personally wish to return an opportunity to ex-champion Omar Narvaez in order to thank for giving us a chance for coronation. We’d like to ask for the WBO’s sanction to our rematch in the next defense.” Japanese people also wish to watch their grudge fight so that Inoue will prove it wasn’t a fluke by a lucky punch.
Ohashi also revealed an ambitious plan that Inoue may invade the US scene. The ex-champ and manager proudly revealed that he had received an offer from Top Rank, and he will positively consider having Inoue appear in Las Vegas for international exposure.
The still 22-year-old dual-class champ will have a bright future. He may try to follow the great footstep of Manny Pacquiao. This reporter feels that Inoue may look like Wilfredo “Bazooka” Gomez at the prime due to his speed on foot and hand, plus power-punching. The Japanese bazooka may appear in the US soon within this year.
Promoter: Ohashi Promotions.
WBO supervisor: Luis Perez (Puerto Rico).
WBO special guest: Francisco “Paco” Valcarcel (who described Inoue as “monster” after watching this affair).
(12-29-2015)