A former WBA super-bantamweight champ and the present WBA necessary contender, Murodjon Akhmadaliev is placing but extra strain on Japanese famous person and reigning pound-for-pound king Naoya Inoue to face him within the ring. Inoue, who holds all of the gold at 122 kilos, is supposedly set to face IBF necessary Sam Goodman subsequent (presumably on Christmas Eve) – regardless that within the rotation system, a WBA necessary protection is due, not an IBF protection.
And “MJ” as Akhmadaliev is understood (heck, his identify certain is fairly robust to pronounce), will not be glad. Talking with RingTV.com, the previous champ from Uzbekistan mentioned he isn’t certain if Inoue is afraid of him, or if boxing politics (the good Lennox Lewis used to name them ‘politricks’) have, and are stopping him from getting his shot at “The Monster.”
Akhmadaliev, 12-1(7) and a southpaw, was set to get his shot at Inoue, 28-0(25) earlier this yr; the WBA ordered the combat. Nevertheless, Inoue was as an alternative permitted to field a voluntary protection in opposition to TJ Doheny, who Inoue stopped with relative ease in September. “MJ” strongly believes he would give Inoue a far, far harder time of issues.
“For this man, it’s completely different,” Akhmadaliev mentioned, referring to Inoue. “I don’t know if he’s scared if it’s politics or no matter. However I don’t care. The one combat at 122 that is smart is versus me. So if Inoue doesn’t need to combat me, then vacate the title and cease calling my identify. I gained’t again down. We’re going to push till the foundations are enforced. I don’t need to should accept the interim title. If he has a headache or no matter different excuse, then he can go be the interim champion.”
Akhmadaliev, crushed solely by Marlon Tapales, this by way of shut, controversial resolution, says he was alleged to combat the winner of the combat between Inoue and Tapales (Inoue profitable by stoppage in December of 2023).
“The winner of Inoue-Tapales was alleged to combat me subsequent,” he mentioned. “So, he selected the WBC necessary first (Inoue getting up from a knockdown to cease Luis Nery in Might of this yr). Then, he selected Doheny. Now, it feels like he’s selecting someone else. At this level, it doesn’t make sense.”
For therefore many people, the very considered the masterful and all-conquering Inoue being reluctant to combat anyone additionally is unnecessary. However till “MJ” will get his shot, he’ll proceed believing this to be the case.
Akhmadaliev bounced again from his April 2023 loss to Tapales to halt Kevin Gonzalez in December of final yr, the combat a WBA eliminator. Now, the 29-year-old tells Ring, “My palms are itching to get again within the ring.” However who would be the different man within the ring with Akhmadaliev when he does return?
