Nonito Donaire admits that his brawling instincts got the better of him against Naoya Inoue.
Yesterday, the two bantamweights rematched one another in Japan for part two of Drama in Saitama three years on from their classic first bout. Speaking on his YouTube channel Beyond the Ring after the second round KO loss the Filipino said he and his team had a great gameplan revolving around jabs and feints, but he failed to implement it.
“I got so caught up with wanting to brawl and that was my biggest flaw. I love brawling and it’s hard for me to go and change that overnight and that was the biggest mistake I did,” said Donaire who suffered his seventh professional defeat.
“I’m a warrior. That’s what I do, I fight. As much as we implement the game plan sometimes old habits die hard. We weren’t able to adjust because the old habit was there to fight.”
The 39-year-old lost his WBC world title to Inoue who can now become undisputed bantamweight champion if he fights and defeats WBO champion Paul Butler.
“Inoue is an amazing fighter and I’m glad I get to share the ring with him, and he said the same thing,” said Donaire.
Having been stung in the first round and subsequently dropped only the bell saved Donaire from further punishment. Inoue upped the pressure in the second and his lethal power got to his opponent once again through an array of shots.
“Inoue got me really good, and I was gonna keep fighting,” said Donaire.
“I’m glad that the referee stopped the fight because I was always gonna stand up because I don’t have any quit in me. No matter what I was never ever gonna lay down. Inoue was amazing and got the best of me today.”