EVERY fighter has their limits, even if they just so happen to be a pound-for-pound wrecking machine.
And for two-weight undisputed champion Naoya Inoue, it would appear that he does indeed have a ceiling when it comes to flying up through the lower divisions.
The super-bantamweight king comes off a typically thrilling performance against Ramon Cardenas, successfully defending all four of his major titles.
And yet, before his stunning eighth-round finish arrived, ‘The Monster’ was compelled to climb off the canvas in only the second round of their clash earlier this month.
In doing so, Inoue, 30-0 (27 KOs), once again displayed his tremendous chin while, at the same time, possessing enough tools in his locker to close the show in emphatic fashion.
Before leaping up to his next division, though, the four-weight world champion must first take care of business against WBA interim titlist Murodjon Akhmadaliev.
The pair are expected to collide this September, and while a specific date and venue is yet to be announced, it would appear that Inoue is set to return to Tokyo, Japan.
After that, it is highly likely that the 32-year-old – unless, of course, a mouth-watering dustup with WBC world bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani materialises – will base himself at featherweight.
And in terms of an opponent he could face at the end of this year, Queensberry promoter Frank Warren has been very vocal in putting WBA world champion Nick Ball forward as a potential option.
But regardless of what comes next, it would seem that Inoue has no interest in stretching himself beyond 126lbs.
“Yes, featherweight is my limit,” the Japanese star told The Ring. “I’m not interested in going any higher.
“If I were 170 cm tall, it would be different. But there is a limit to how much I can build, frame-wise. Even at junior featherweight, I’m building muscle one by one, building up my physique and taking on the challenge.”
