STEPPING in the ring with Naoya Inoue – arguably the most fearsome puncher in boxing – on just 13 days’ notice says one of two things about a person’s character.
In one sense, their remarkable degree of confidence must indicate that, somewhere within Inoue’s elite repertoire of attacks, they have identified a few chinks in the armour.
That, admittedly, is not beyond the realm of possibility but, given the Japanese star’s tremendous surge through 28 professional outings, is perhaps something that, if true, has remained largely unnoticeable.
Equally, the bold decision to square off against Inoue, 28-0 (25 KOs), on such short notice could also be inspired by a level of fearlessness; one which, whether justified or linked more with delusion, can be a difficult trait to harness.
Either way, Ye Joon Kim, 21-2-2 (13 KOs), who has replaced an injured Sam Goodman, will soon discover what it means to share the ring with a generational talent.
Inoue has, after all, wreaked havoc in the lower divisions for over a decade, and will be looking to resume his ruthless run at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, this Friday.
But while the undisputed super bantamweight king has produced flawless performances against the likes of Stephen Fulton and Andrew Moloney – two former world champions – there have been a few occasions, too, where he has been forced to overcome spells of adversity.
In his first encounter with Nonito Donaire, for instance, Inoue only emerged victorious after making the necessary adjustments to restore his control, stamping his authority in the championship rounds.
Similarly, against Luis Nery last year, ‘The Monster’ showcased his mettle by climbing to his feet after suffering a heavy first-round knockdown.
In doing so, the 31-year-old has proven that, even with his back seemingly up against the wall, he will always find a way to win.
Kim, meanwhile, is yet to prove that he possesses even a shred of Inoue’s quality, with his most recent defeat arriving against Rob Diezel, who has a pro record of 14-9, in 2023.
And so, while the 32-year-old may style himself on Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao – going by the nickname, ‘Pacquiweather’ – an emphatic stoppage victory for Inoue, perhaps even in the first three rounds, is a very likely outcome.
