Naoya "Monster" Inoue is a man of few words, but his devastating knockouts have elevated the Japanese bantamweight to main event status. Inoue will defend his WBA and IBF world titles Saturday against Filipino challenger Michael "Hot and Spicy" Dasmarinas at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. Inoue, who also captured titles at light flyweight and junior bantamweight, is 15-0 in world title bouts and looks to continue his dominance against a man who has not tasted defeat since 2014. This is what they had to say:

 

Naoya Inoue

 

"Basically, {becoming undisputed champion} means I'm the best in that weight class, the bantamweight division. To prove that, that's why I'm going after all four belts." 

 

"I feel the expectations, and I want to answer those expectations, and I want to have a performance Saturday night to answer to those expectations."

 

"I'm very happy that the nickname 'Monster' comes before Naoya Inoue. I'm very happy and honored, and I've taken it in myself as far as 'Monster' in the United States as my name."

 

Michael Dasmarinas

 

"I did everything I am supposed to do in training, and I am prepared, and I will do whatever it takes to give a good fight to Naoya Inoue."

 

"It was a long, hard wait {after winning the IBF title eliminator in March 2019}, but patience and perseverance allowed me to get here. I am thankful to everyone that I've been given the chance to fight a great fighter in Naoya Inoue."

 

"America has to learn about my very hot and spicy punches!"