It’s about time, US battle followers have stated, and are saying. Japanese celebrity, Naoya Inoue, will eventually return to America to battle, this in “early subsequent 12 months.” So stated Bob Arum, this simply after “The Monster” had terrorised yet one more foe, the newest sufferer being a recreation however outgunned (aren’t all of them) TJ Doheny.
Inoue has not boxed within the US since June of 2021, and one of many knocks on Inoue – a fighter who’s, to all rational and agenda-free people, an virtually good preventing machine – is the declare that he has “stayed at dwelling to battle.”
Properly, Inoue is a rock star in Japan, so who can blame him for repeatedly taking part in in entrance of sell-out crowds? One other seemingly pathetic criticism of Inoue, largely by the identical of us who appear virtually determined to see “The Monster” lose, is one that claims he has not but however MUST go as much as featherweight or past.
Why is an effective query? Inoue, in spite of everything, gained his first world title (in simply his sixth professional bout) down, means down, at gentle flyweight. But on the banging drum goes: Inoue “has to battle Tank Davies.”
And these likeminded folks scream and holler how Tank would “destroy” Inoue. Possibly so, Tank is in fact a person who has gained a title up at 140 kilos!
Again to the true world, and forgetting the “haters” (a time period I, effectively, please pardon the pun, hate to make use of) – who would possibly Inoue battle in his “celebration,” as Arum said, Inoue’s Vegas battle in 2025 will probably be? It appears will probably be obligatory in opposition to Sam Goodman subsequent, in December, in Tokyo. However then who?
You recognize what? It doesn’t actually matter. Inoue has now reached the standing, the privileged standing that solely the particular ones attain, the place they will just about battle anybody, and nothing however an enormous crowd will present up. Suppose Ali, assume Tyson, assume Mayweather.
Inoue is now in that small group. Positive, Inoue nonetheless has to carry out, and to a level, he has to tackle a seemingly testing challenger, however Inoue has earned the luxurious of taking a battle or fights he is aware of he’ll completely win.
That stated, there are a couple of doable big-fight assessments for Inoue in what will probably be his third outing in Vegas.
That transfer to 126 could effectively come at a time and a spot that Inoue sees match, however there’ll very in all probability be extra fights at 122 kilos first.
Three guys who may face Inoue in Vegas in, maybe, April or Might of 2025:
Murodjon Akhmadaliev.
Inoue’s subsequent obligatory, former champ Akhmadaliev, has dared to say Inoue is afraid to battle him. This match-up could be an actual deal with for US followers.
Junto Nakatani.
When Arum stated “celebration,” did he maybe imply a celebration of all issues nice in Japan? Little question, Inoue and present WBC bantamweight champ Nakatani are each nice, and so many people crave seeing them duke it out. However this battle, maybe the largest ever in Japanese boxing historical past, belongs at dwelling? Or has Arum acquired different sudden plans?
That transfer as much as featherweight.
Would possibly Inoue make his subsequent transfer up the load divisions in Vegas? Possibly, and in opposition to any of the present champions at 126 kilos, Inoue could be making one heck of a return to Sin Metropolis.
Briefly, whoever Inoue fights, this in his subsequent battle and in his battle after that, all of us who recognize his energy, his ability, his IQ, and his sheer strategy will probably be making darn certain we tune in.
Inoue IS the most effective fighter on the planet right this moment. For those who disagree, give us all one – only one – weak point you’ve got detected in “The Monster’s” recreation to show in any other case.
