In 33 fights, nobody has been able to solve the puzzle that Naoya Inoue presents. Does an unbeaten retirement await one of boxing’s modern greats?
The Japanese phenomenon has 27 knockouts and recently beat countryman Junto Nakatani in Tokyo to solidify his position at the top of the pound-for-pound list.
Inoue has laid out the plan for the rest of his campaign in no uncertain terms – stick around at super-bantamweight for one more fight, likely Jesse Rodriguez, before moving up to featherweight in pursuit of belts in a fifth division.
If that is how things play out, there are currently four champions waiting for him: the WBO’s Rafael Espinoza, the WBA’s Brandon Figueroa, the IBF’s Angelo Leo and the WBC’s Bruce Carrington.
Though not the only titlist at 126lbs to call Inoue out, Carrington has been perhaps the most vocal, and has now doubled down on his claim that defeating ‘The Monster’ would not be too tough a night at the office.
Asked by Luis Para if he believes it is a hard matchup, ‘Shu Shu’ was clear in his answer.
“No. I think he actually plays [into] my style. I think he’s a good boxer, very twitchy and things like that, but there are certain things that I know I could use to make him fight my fight.”
Carrington then questioned whether or not Inoue’s knockout power would carry up in weight.
“To be honest, I think it will be tough. Any of the champions will give him a tough fight … I don’t think Inoue’s punching power would show as much with the champions in the featherweight division.”
Carrington won the WBC belt by stopping Carlost Castro at Madison Square Garden back in January. He puts it on the line in a first defence against Rene Palacios in July.
Meanwhile, Inoue will have a close eye on ‘Bam’ Rodriguez’s upcoming move to bantamweight against Antonio Vargas in Phoenix on June 13, with victory for the former likely locking in the Japanese champion’s final fight at 122lbs.
