We have our first "Monster" sighting of 2021.
Undefeated bantamweight champion of the world Naoya Inoue returns to the ring for the first time this year, as he looks to defend his IBF and WBA titles against Michael Dasmarinas at the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas on Saturday night. The card's co-main event will pit Mikaela Mayer vs. Erica Farias with Mayer's WBO junior lightweight title on the line.
Nearly every time the 28-year-old Inoue fights, he blazes a path of destruction. After defeating Nonito Donaire via a riveting unanimous decision to become unified world bantamweight champion in November 2019, Inoue followed that up with a seventh-round knockout of Jason Moloney in October. That KO had Inoue detonating a picture-perfect right hand, which collided with an incoming Moloney's face for yet another highlight reel finish — and one befitting of a "Monster" on Halloween.
Inoue will try to add to his list of victims with his all gas, big punching style against Dasmarinas. The Filipino fighter is coming off a TKO of Artid Bamrungauea in October as well.
A win by Inoue can perhaps bring boxing fans closer to another unification bout between the Japanese sensation and Donaire, who became the WBC bantamweight champion last month with a scintillating fourth-round KO of Nordine Oubaali.
Will Inoue record another devastating knockout or will Dasmarinas become an improbable winner?
Here's everything you need to know about Inoue vs. Dasmarinas on Saturday night.
Inoue vs. Dasmarinas fight date, start time
- Date: Saturday, June 19
- Main card: 10 p.m. ET/3 a.m. BST
- Inoue vs. Dasmarinas main event (approx): 11:30 p.m. ET/4:30 a.m. BST
The Naoya Inoue vs. Michael Dasmarinas main card launches at 10 p.m. ET/3 a.m. BST, with the headliners expected to make their ring walks at approximately 11:30 p.m. ET/4:30 a.m. BST, although that depends on the earlier bouts.
Inoue vs. Dasmarinas TV channel, live stream
- TV / Stream (US) : ESPN/ESPN+
Inoue will put his IBF and WBA bantamweight titles on the line against Dasmarinas live on ESPN. You can also live stream it via ESPN+. Check ESPN+ for any restrictions in your country.
Where is the Inoue vs. Dasmarinas fight?
The event will take place live from the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada. This marks the second of three Top Rank cards slated at the venue in June, as former pound-for-pound ruler Vasiliy Lomachenko will clash with Japanese contender Masayoshi Nakatani there on June 26.
Naoya Inoue record and bio
- Nationality: Japanese
- Born: April 10, 1993
- Height: 5-5
- Reach: 67 inches
- Total fights: 20
- Record: 20-0 with 17 knockouts
Michael Dasmarinas record and bio
- Nationality: Filipino
- Born: Unlisted
- Height: 5-7
- Reach: N/A
- Total fights: 33
- Record: 30-2-1 with 20 knockouts
Inoue vs. Dasmarinas main card
- Naoya Inoue vs. Michael Dasmarinas for Inoue's IBF and WBA Bantamweight titles
- Mikaela Mayer vs. Erica Farias for Mayer's WBO women's Junior Lightweight title
- Adam Lopez vs. Isaac Dogboe; Featherweights