Unified bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue reported a robbery at his home just hours after his knockout win over Nonito Donaire.
Japanese media have reported that the boxer, who went 23-0 with a stunning second round stoppage in his rematch with WBC champion Donaire, had his home broken into while he was at the Saitama Super Arena for the fight. It is said that a luxury bag was stolen from his home around the time that he was fighting.
The boxer took to social media to let fans know about the robbery, imploring his supporters to stay careful after having the expensive item taken. He also admitted that it had put a dampener on what was otherwise a great evening, where he got one step closer to undisputed status.
"I saw the news," he said in a tweet written in his native Japanese to his 425,600+ fans. "But on a happy day, it's a bad story, isn't it? Everyone should be careful."
It is believed that the robbery took place while Inoue and his team were at the venue, where he was stopping Donaire on his way to becoming the unified WBA, WBC and IBF champion at bantamweight. The pair had fought to a close decision in one of the best fights of 2019, and came together at the same venue with the same belts on the line for a rematch two-and-a-half years later.
But this time Donaire was unable to deal with the punching power and precision of Inoue, who is ranked by The Ring Magazine as the No.3 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. He dropped Donaire at the end of the first before wobbling him in the second and ending the contest within just five minutes of action.
After their barn-burner 2019 clash, fans expected the duo to go hell for leather from the first bell in what would act as essentially 'round 13' of their first meeting. But it was a tentative start from both men before Inoue decided to throw a huge right hand that put his rival down at the end of the first, which essentially ended the bout as a contest.
Do you think Naoya Inoue should go for undisputed this year? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
"Two years and seven months ago I fought against Nonito Donaire in the WBSS final here at the same venue," Inoue said after the fight. "You gave me the power, thank you.
"In the very first round I received a left hook from Nonito and that punch made me wake up and stay focused, throughout the fight. The last right straight, I didn't know it was a great one but I saw the video and I knew this is going to be the one.
"I didn't know the specific round, but to be able to reach my status up at the top I needed to win this fight so I decided to finish it at this moment. This fight was magic for myself as well, I pressured myself and I did it."
