Topic: Boxing Speculation, Odds and Predictions - page 153. (Read 31605 times)

If Inoue can overcome Fulton then we can say that he is the real deal in the 122 lbs division. Probably this will be Fulton's last fight in the super bantamweight before moving up.

Meanwhile, have read a news article that Donaire and Moloney will slug it out for the WBC belt vacated by Inoue. This is good news for us fans of Donaire as we all know that he still have some tricks to do the job even if he is 40 years old.

Ok so it seems that Inoue vs Fulton is already set and the fight is going to be held in Japan, probably May-June, so this is a big news for us boxing fans. When we thought that Fulton is going to step up and go to 126 lbs because he doesn't want to fight Inoue.

Let's wait for the official announcement, at least the path is clear now for Inoue to go after the belt but it's not going to be easy as he will be fighting a great champion as well.  For sure this is going to be a lot of action in this fight.

Fulton's highlights vs Brandon Figueroa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUwNHWdarW0

Nice, this is something new I've just learned about this news today. Once Inoue gets out of his title, it will be vacant and this is where Donaire is trying to catch.
This is like the last match that he'll ever have and then will retire with the title and win because it's so hard to have that retirement when you've just lost consecutively to the current world champion as you can't just beat him. He's getting old but he's still trying and hopefully when Moloney approves on this, he'll get the belt.

There's only a limit for a certain thing and Nonito Donaire should already accept the reality if it turns out that he cannot have a title in this division anymore, there's no need to look in the lower division too because there's nothing to prove anymore. He's been known to be "The Flash" but lately, he's not that flashy or fast anymore as his opponent are already catching up with him.

I think that in any case if Inoue decides to fight any boxer he will attract any boxer, this is a business model that has been very good, in any case, if Inoue has many fights to do, I think he has to look at the highest bidder , because that first translates into that the demand will be great, because Inoue has a very big reputation and this attracts attention then obviously it translates into that it will be very exciting, and this means that Inoue will be paid very good money, and now well after this we will see how much level Inoue will have, because in the category he was in he was the undisputed champion.


The truth is that the post-Inoue effect seems surprising to me, they are already thinking about the titles that will be vacant, it is necessary to see that Inoue has marked an era of boxing, it is difficult to do something like what he has achieved, to really be the undisputed in the category is something that commands a lot of respect, whatever Donaire is doing is something that he is looking to resurface again, for me the one who has to prove everything in his new category is still Inoue, since he is quite a boxer wanted by his opponents, and I think that right now many will want to face him, in the 115 category it is something that people have not yet given much to talk about and they have made a lot of noise.

And speaking of Inoue:

Naoya Inoue - A New Frontier at Jr. Featherweight




Source: https://www.boxingscene.com/naoya-inoue-new-frontier-jr-featherweight--171885

It only make sense for Donaire to retire because admit it or not, father time has catch up with him, have you notice that thin hair line now? just like what we have seen in Lebron James, signs that they are getting old.

So this is his last chance, we don't want him to get knockout cold, if he lost for the belt against Moloney then that should be it.

It's time to admit that he can no longer box.

Whether we like it or not, Donaire will be retiring soon, he is already 40 years old and that's already old in boxing now. He suffer many losses already, one was against Inoue which was his recent loss, but of course, he has a chance to be a champion again as Inoue has already moved up in weight. So it's nice if he will just retire as a champion in case he'll be a champ again.

It's such a waste to go on retirement soon when he still feeling it and he still can punch to knock out his opponent. since this boxing industry gathers huge money, it's really hard for those like Donaire to turn away from offers while he still can box and can give the fans excited when he fights in the ring. I think he will stop when he will gonna suffers the same loss again when he will gonna be knockout out cold or can no longer take some punches like how he used to be in his prime. right now, his speed is not the same anymore, and when he retires he will be soon fighting celebrity boxers if he still wants to make money from boxing.

That's money and a chance for the title again. A perfect combination for a retiring boxer. Win or not, he will have a good amount in his pocket and maybe calm down waiting for a challenger or just do what Inoue did vacating the belt. I bet it will be difficult to trim that weight now considering his age, metabolism will be at a different level.
He already proved himself a lot of times in different weight classes. Time to just calm things down after this upcoming fight.

https://www.boxingscene.com/donaire-sends-notice-team-moloney-on-title-bid-i-not-relinquishing-my-position-wbc--171884

As for Naoya Inoue's news. Here is the take of boxingscene.
Johnriel Casimero (32-4, 22 KO, TBRB #9 at Jr. Featherweight)
Luis Nery (33-1, 25 KO, TBRB #7, Ring Magazine #6)
Ra’eese Aleem (20-0, 12 KO, TBRB #4, Ring Magazine #4)
Murodjon Akhmadaliev (11-0, 8 KO, IBF/WBA, TBRB/Ring Magazine #2)
Stephen Fulton (21-0, 8 KO, WBC/WBO, TBRB/Ring Magazine #1)
https://www.boxingscene.com/naoya-inoue-new-frontier-jr-featherweight--171885

I agree, although some of us would likely advise him to retire because of the brutal beating he got from the hands of Inoue, this boxers still seek something before they finally hang up their gloves.

And this could be a make or break for Nonito, if he lost this one, then it's better to quit because he doesn't have anything to proved. But if he can win again then he has to go and will have to defend that belt and yes, this could be his second reign at bantamweight.

Honestly, Donaire returning to 115 lbs is a good option for me knowing that he's already on a retirement period, and getting a title here shouldn't be a tough challenge for Donaire even at his age. However, since WBC Bantamweight is now vacant, fighting at 118 lbs becomes a better option for Donaire.

Another thing, it's not that when Inoue vacates his title, Donaire will get away with the rights of becoming a mandatory fighter. It's just that after being beaten by Inoue, Donaire retains its position on the WBC rankings and becomes a 2nd mandatory fighter.

Anyways, it's now official that Donaire vs Moloney for the vacant WBC Bantamweight champion will take place.

Just waiting for the other details and information e.g date, venue, etc.

Also, Donaire is more suited in the bantamweight division rather than looking for a title at 115 pounds as I'm inclined that his career might end sooner that what he expected. Having a fight against Moloney for the vacant title is already a good opportunity for Donaire to display his prowess again in this division that he was once a champion, it will be a perfect bout for him to test if he can still do few more fights or it's time for him to hang up his gloves.

There's a rematch between Stephen Fulton vs Brandon Figueroa, Figueroa was once a WBO super bantamweight champion, this is a revenge match where Figueroa want to get back his belt and steal WBO belt from Fulton. Looking at their previous fight, Fulton is really dominating the fight and Figueroa only can compete Fulton for few rounds only. So it's not surprising to see the odds for Fulton is 1.32x while Figueroa is 3.80x.

The fight is expected will happen on 26th February 2023.

A good way to re-try holding another belt, glad to see that he still active and still not retiring even at his age, he will now go to take that opportunity to push for his old title back against Moloney after Inoue decided to climb to the new division. I still believe that Donaire can win this fight. He still has that fighting, momentum just not enough to hold the monster.

But this possible mandatory fight can give him another exposure either to retire with a belt or to pursue for more money fight while he still can, depending on how would be the outcome.

I guess though the condition still base on Inoue, and now that he has official going to super bantamweight, it make sense for Donaire to stay at the bantamweight and fight against Moloney for the vacant belt.

And if by chance Inoue decided for at least fight another one in the bantamweight, it's either Donaire moving down to 115 lbs and could remain semi retired. But the good thing is that the first condition has been met so Donaire will have another crack to get his belt back.

True. It's not that far. I have seen fighters who had a hard time being in a new weight class especially if it's going for a heavier weight. Going slow, keeping up with the pace, rhythm, and so on. But it's not like he jumped for 3 weight classes, it's just one up so I think he can handle it, he ain't also that small to make an adjustment.

Who will be the pair here to fight for the belts left by Inoue? I have not seen some news yet about a fight for the title. Any share will be greatly appreciated, thanks.
At this point, will it be Rodriguez (1) vs Moloney (2) first before others will have their chances to steal it from them? I mean, the rankings must have some use that's why it was there and not just to enumerate them by strength.

It's not that Donaire suddenly changed his course but it was an option right from the start. It's just that some conditions were met.

As you mentioned, WBC mandated a fight involving Donaire if Naoya Inoue decided to vacate all his belts in the bantamweight.

Moving forward, since Inoue now officially moved up weight, Donaire will now instead push on the better option which is competing again in the WBC Bantamweight title against Australian's Jason “Mayhem” Moloney.

Facts, Donaire said that he wants to challenge the winner of Estrada vs Chocolatito at 115 lbs, and we all know that Estrada won that fight already. But Donaire is old and it might be dangerous for him going down to 115 lbs as this point in his career.

But since Inoue has officially left the 118 lbs, and now the body is looking for him and others to have a fight and sort of eliminator as who will get one of Inoue's belt then for sure Nonito will stay here again and try to make a second run with another championship on his belt. The field is open now but he will have the inside track. Him and Moloney for the WBC belt.

Names are exciting but only if the best fights that the boxing fans want will be organized and no such thing as ducking or pure business purposes.


I doubt. Top boxers do have their own promotions and are under contract with a certain network.

That was a clear suicide for their talent if Inoue will be the target right away.

Only champions will have the chance to face Inoue early as may be part of the mandatory fight, depending on the mood swing of the boxing councils.


The answer is always yes but the chances are undetermined.

118lbs to 122lbs isn't a big change of environment and if Inoue will skip facing the champions here for the meantime but instead face other opponents as a warm up, with just 2-3 fights, he can adapt right away how boxing is supposed to be in the 122lbs.

This is the reason why Donaire suddenly changed his course after knowing that Inoue will vacate all the belts once he climbs the next weight class, supposedly Donaire will go down at 115 pounds in super-flyweight division because he knows that he won't be holding any belts while Inoue is still in bantam weight but after knowing the fact, he is now maintaining the weight and I've heard that he's already scheduled to fight once WBO belt was vacated. Correct me if I'm wrong.