Promoter Eddie Hearn known as out Naoya Inoue to battle his #1 WBA contender, Murodjon Akhmadaliev (13-1, 10 KOs), following his third-round knockout victory over Ricardo Espinoza (30-5, 25 KOs) on Saturday evening on the Salle des Étoiles in Monte Carlo, Monaco.
(Credit score: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Hearn is attempting to disgrace Inoue, 31, and his group into making the battle with Akhamadaliev, however that doesn’t determine to be efficient. Inoue has been proof against strain from the general public his complete profession, ignoring their pleas for him to battle higher opposition.
He’s coasted by means of 12 years of feasting on tomato cans, profitable three division world titles in opposition to flawed fighters. He’s not going to react to being shamed by Hearn by preventing Akhmadaliev and certain getting knocked out in the identical approach Ricardo Espinoza was tonight.
Akhmadaliev knocked Espinoza down 3 times within the third spherical to get a stoppage at 2:59. After the battle, Akhmadaliev challenged undisputed tremendous bantamweight champion Inoue to face them subsequent after his subsequent title protection in opposition to #1 IBF and #1 WBO Sam Goodman on January twenty fourth.
Will Inoue Vacate?
Hearn mentioned he thinks Staff Inoue will “keep away from” Akhmadaliev. If he doesn’t battle him, he expects Naoya to vacate his WBA title. He may very well do this as a result of he’s anticipated to maneuver as much as 126 quickly after his fights in opposition to Goodman (19-0, 9 KOs) on January twenty fourth and Junto Nakatani.
The Threat Averse Champion
Akhmadaliev has nearly no likelihood of getting right into a battle with Noue as a result of he’s too gifted, and the Japanese star has turn into risk-averse. Inoue has by no means fought anybody good throughout his 12-year profession. So you’ll be able to say that he was by no means a risk-taker.
“I’m prepared. Let’s go, Naoya. Why is he ducking me? If he doesn’t wish to battle with me, he wants to clarify as a result of once I was a champion, I adopted the foundations and he ought to comply with the foundations as effectively,” mentioned Murodjon Akmadaliev throughout an interview following his knockout of Ricardo Espinoza on Saturday evening, calling out undisputed tremendous bantamweight champion Naoya Inoue.
“I had obligatory. I used to be preventing them with none dialogue. So, I would like an evidence as a result of I’m right here and prepared for the battle. The most effective ought to be preventing the perfect. I’m obligatory, and [WBA] interim champion. He [Inoue] ought to show he’s the perfect in his division. He’s a legend. He ought to show it as effectively,” mentioned Akhmadaliev about Naoya Inoue.
I don’t assume there’s something Akhmadaliev and Hearn can do to power Naoya into preventing him. He’s going to make his rescheduled title protection in opposition to the light-hitting Sam Goodman subsequent on January 24 and doubtless battle Junto Nakatania after that. He’s one other beatable man.
Naoya’s Avoidance Techniques
“We’ve delivered him the battle. It’s not been known as as soon as. It’s been known as twice by the WBA,” mentioned promoter Eddie Hearn a few battle being ordered twice for his fighter Akhmadaliev. “The primary time, they paid for an exception to duck MJ.
“The second time was iron in writing. They needed to battle him. They discovered a solution to keep away from him [Akhmadaliev] once more. Naoya Inoue is a pound-for-pound legend. We respect him. He’s an unbelievable fighter. There’s one factor he hasn’t bought. That’s Uzbek energy.
“I’m telling you. There’s just one fighter within the [super bantamweight] division that may compete with him, not to mention beat him, and that’s MJ. I let you know now, and also you log this. This man [Akhmadaliev] will beat Naoya Inoue.
“He has all the talents, all the power, and the pedigree. I totally imagine he’ll beat him. We’ll do it in Japan. They need to have fought one another for the undisputed championship. We [Akhmadaliev] misplaced a call that we didn’t imagine we deserved to lose [against Marlon Tapales by a 12-round split decision on April 8, 2023],” mentioned Hearn about Akhmadaliev’s controversial choice loss to Tapales final yr.
That was a uncooked deal that Akhmadaliev was given, dropping to Tapales by 12-round choice final yr in April 2023. It’s too dangerous there was by no means a rematch as a result of there ought to have been.
“Twice, he’s [Naoya] been known as to battle him. He’s the one fighter within the division, and there are folks on the market who say, ‘Oh no, Naoya doesn’t duck anybody.’ Possibly Inoue doesn’t, however his group do, as a result of everyone in boxing is aware of how good he [Akhmadaliev] is.
“Uzbek Energy”
“Let the perfect battle the perfect. It’s the one battle within the division. It’s among the best fights within the sport. I let you know what. I’ll guess the home on it. This younger man beat Naoya Inoue. I’ll let you know one thing else. I’ll guess you they by no means battle him. After this battle with [Sam] Goodman,
“He’s both bought to vacate or battle him. I guess you they keep away from him. In the event that they do, don’t begin calling him pound-for-pound #1 as a result of this man will beat him. Uzbek energy, stick your home on it,” mentioned Hearn.
Naoya goes to vacate his 4 titles at 122, however he’ll do this with out preventing Akhmadaliev as a result of he’s a risk to beating him. He’s cautious and all the time has been.
