THE 2025 calendar seemed to be mapped out for Naoya Inoue months ago, with the Japanese sensation once again aiming to prove himself to be boxing’s pound-for-pound number one. Those plans are set to change.
This year, Inoue, 30-0 (27 KOs), defended his undisputed title in a fourth-round stoppage win against Ye Joon Kim in January and then again in a tougher than anticipated clash with Ramon Cardenas last month, where a September meeting with Murodjon Akhmadaliev was confirmed afterwards.
It has been widely reported that after facing the Uzbek Inoue would move move up to featherweight and challenge Nick Ball, 22-0-1 (13 KOs), for the WBA title at 126lbs in Saudi Arabia this December, before moving back down to super-bantamweight for a salivating scrap with Junto Nakatani in the New Year.
Yet, after being surprisingly knocked down by Cardenas at 122lbs, Yahoo Japan are reporting that there are ‘ongoing discussions about scrapping that original plan’, amid fears of a difficult move back down in weight.
Now fighting in his fourth weight-class, Inoue would have just three months to build himself physically for a fight with the small yet imposing Liverpudlian and would then be required to drop another four pounds to face Nakatani.
Instead, Inoue’s team are considering another defence of his four super-bantamweight titles in Saudi at the end of the year, likely against either Sam Goodman, 20-0 (8 KOs), or Alan Picasso, 31-0-1 (17 KOs), before taking on Nakatani in Spring and moving up to featherweight permanently afterwards.
Speaking of a potential move to 126lbs, Inoue’s father, Shingo Inoue, explained that although his son could opt to maintain his physique and face Ball with the intentions of outboxing him to a points win, the fighting philosophy of ‘The Monster’ would not allow for this kind of mentality, as per Yahoo Japan.
“I think that super-bantamweight is best for him. He’s not tall. I think he thinks his power can only be used up to featherweight. I’ve been saying this for a long time but even if he goes higher, he can’t lose to anyone if he stays calm, hits and runs and fights for points.
“But, Naoya’s pride won’t allow for that kind of fight. Nobody wants to see Naoya with his body bloated and outboxing, right?
“Naoya’s philosophy won’t allow it in the first place, but in featherweight he will have to train at full capacity and challenge, [if he wishes to maintain his much-adored fighting style].”
