Naoya Inoue has become the unified IBF and WBA bantamweight champion after coming through the battle of his career with Nonito Donaire.
In a breathless World Boxing Super Series finale, Inoue was forced to go the distance for the first time in nine fights as Donaire turned in a performance for the ages against one of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet.
The 26-year-old three-weight world champion however sealed a majority decision victory on the judges' scorecards to extend his professional record to 19-0 in front of a home crowd at the Super Arena in Saitama.
Since moving up to bantamweight, Inoue, currently no.4 four in the Ring Magazine's pound-for-pound rankings, has blasted his way through the best the division has to offer, stopping Jamie McDonnell, Juan Carlos Payano and Emmanuel Rodriguez inside two rounds before this afternoon.
Many tipped him to dispatch 36-year-old Donaire is similarly ruthless fashion. But the veteran Filipino, himself a four-weight world champion, stood toe-to-toe with one of the hardest punchers in boxing, giving him serious problems after opening up a cut above his eye in just the second round.
The two traded throughout another Fight of the Year contest with Donaire standing firm in the fifth round against the shots that have devastated so many other fighters in the 118lbs divison.
Inoue's reputation as one of boxing most fearsome fighters was put in serious jeopardy in the ninth as Donaire rocked him with a sensational counter right, leaving his opponent reeling for the first time in his career.
Inoue, already bloodied by that second round cut, was left with blood gushing from his nose with that defiant late assault leaving him on the brink of a first defeat - and boxing with the possibility of a result that would rock the sport.
A monster body shot in the 11th round however tipped the fight back in Inoue's favour, with Donaire somehow making the referee's count. Inoue continued his assault in the final round, with judges scoring the fight 116-111, 117-109 and 114-113 in his favour.
Inoue and Donaire embraced after their battle with the new unified champion revealing in his post-fight interview the shot that left him with a second round cut also affected his vision.
I had double vision since the second round, but I was victorious and I am very proud of myself. I believe that I have a bright future… Nonito Donaire was very, very strong. I think Donaire is a true champion.”
On the undercard, Takuma Inoue, Naoya's younger brother, launched his own world title challenge against WBO bantamweight champion Nordine Oubaali.
Lacking his brother's obscene power, however, Takuma struggled to hurt the champion and after a fourth round knockdown, fell to an unanimous decision win.
