What to Watch: November 7 – 9

by Caryn A. Tate

 Join me as I break down which of the week’s televised fights are most interesting and why.

Thursday, November 7

2:00am PT/5:00am ET – DAZN

Naoya Inoue (18-0, 16 KOs) vs. Nonito Donaire (40-5, 26 KOs) – 12 rounds, WBA/IBF world bantamweight titles

Inoue vs. Donaire should be an excellent match up. It’s the bantamweight final of the Word Boxing Super Series tournament, which has seen Inoue tear through veteran  Juan Carlos Payano and previously undefeated Emmanuel Rodríguez. Donaire, who moved down from featherweight to the 118-pound limit for the first time since 2011, defeated Ryan Burnett and Stephon Young to reach the final.

Inoue gets a lot of attention for his knockouts, and they are impressive. But it’s the way he gets those knockouts that is so impressive—and often against top opposition. His IQ belies his youth and seeming “big puncher” mentality; his instincts in the ring are exceptional, as is his timing. 

Donaire is a 45-fight veteran, now knocking on 37. The fact that he’s still able to perform at the top level at this age, particularly being a smaller fighter, is incredibly impressive and perhaps speaks to not only his mindset and doggedness but also to his admirable stance on the most stringent drug testing throughout his career. (It’s now well known that performance enhancing drugs take a toll on one’s body.)

Nonito’s prime was second to none. He beat the likes of Vic Darchinyan, Hernan Marquez, Fernando Montiel and Wilfredo Vasquez Jr. Donaire is perhaps best known for his tremendous left hook and his fast footwork, which has slowed down a bit as he ages but still proves to be a problem for many younger fighters.

Being 10 years younger than Donaire, seemingly in the middle of his prime and knocking out so much of his opposition, it’s easy to see why Inoue is the favorite heading into this bout. But don’t count Donaire out. He will likely give “Monster,” as Naoya is known, his toughest test to date, win or lose. 

Regardless of the end result, the fight itself should be filled with fireworks.

Saturday, November 9

12:00pm PT/3:00pm ET – ESPN+

Danny Dignum (11-0, 5 KOs) vs. Conrad Cummings (17-3-1, 7 KOs) – 10 rounds, middleweight; Michael McKinson (17-0, 2 KOs) vs. Luis Alberto Veron (17-0-2, 8 KOs) – 10 rounds, welterweight; Chantelle Cameron (11-0, 7 KOs) vs. Anahi Ester Sanchez (19-4, 11 KOs) – 10 rounds, lightweight

3:30pm PT/6:30pm ET – ESPN+ – Herring vas. Roach Jr. undercards

6:00pm PT / 9:00pm ET – DAZN

KSI vs. Logan Paul 2 – 6 rounds, cruiserweight; Billy Joe Saunders (28-0, 13 KOs) vs. Marcelo Esteban Coceres (28-0-1, 15 KOs) – 12 rounds, WBO world super middleweight title

7:00pm PT/10:00pm ET – ESPN+

Jamel Herring (20-2, 10 KOs) vs. Lamont Roach Jr. (19-0-1, 7 KOs) – 12 rounds, WBO world super featherweight title