By Hisao Adachi

On Wednesday in Glasgow, Scotland, the final press conference took place for the clash between the World Boxing Association (WBA) "regular" champion and the International Boxing Federation (IBF) world champion, which takes place on Saturday, May 18, at The SSE. Hydro.

Two unbeaten boxers, the sensational Japanese king Naoya "Monster" Inoue (17-0, 15KOs) will attempt to claim the IBF bantamweight crown from Puerto Rico's Emmanuel "Manny" Rodríguez (19-0, 12 KOs).

The contest will be a twelve round bout, as part of the semi-finals of the attractive World Boxing Super Series.

Inoue is not taking the fight lightly.

He expects a very tough contest with Rodriguez and doesn't see this contest being a one round blowout, which has been the case with some of Inoue's fights.

Inoue blasted out Jamie McDonnell in 112 seconds to seize the WBA world bantamweight title in May of 2018 in Tokyo - and against the Dominican Juan Carlos Payano, he secured a crushing KO in only 70 seconds in his first defense in October 2018 in Yokohama.

"Emmanuel Rodriguez is a wonderful boxer with excellent boxing skills, and he is my most powerful opponent in my boxing life. I recognize the pugilistic qualities of Emmanuel Rodriguez, and for that reason I am very happy to fight with him. I have studied a lot of his boxing and now I am ready and attentive to beat him in order to verify that I am better than Emmanuel Rodriguez," Inoue said.

"Of course I will go into fight in search of a KO without carelessness throughout the rounds, sooner or later I will knock out Emmanuel Rodríguez. I understand that I'm favorite in odds. But, I tell you that my fight with Emmanuel Rodriguez will not be easy for me, nor will it be unilaterally in my favor like when I won by KO in the first round against Jamie McDonnell and Juan Carlos Payano.

"When our two eyes met, it was at that precise moment in which I could sense the spiritual weakness of Emmanuel Rodriguez. He was the first to look away while I gave him an aggressive gaze."