Can anyone compete with Naoya Inoue? What’s next for ‘The Monster’?،
Fight by fight, it has become increasingly difficult to summarize the greatness of Naoya Inoue.
That's largely because “The Monster” won't stop adding dimensions to his game or chapters to his rich history in a boxing ring.
When American fans wake up before dawn twice a year to watch Inoue fight in Japan, they do so knowing he will likely win. Inoue was a -2000 favorite to defeat Marlon Tapales on Tuesday, according to ESPN BET, and become the undisputed 122-pound champion.
But discovering an athlete at the peak of his profession is a breathtaking spectacle, and we know that what we are witnessing with Inoue is special. Special because he barely loses a round. Special because everything seems so easy for Inoue in these ropes. Above all, special because Inoue never needs excuses. He just wins.
His unique talent was on full display Tuesday in Tokyo as he defeated Tapales in only his second fight at junior featherweight. Inoue dropped the 31-year-old Filipino in the fourth round, then for the count of 10 in round 10 to cement himself as the best 122-pound boxer – if not overall – in the world.
Inoue entered the ring ranked No. 2 by ESPN pound-for-pound, and there is a good argument that he is No. 1. The 30-year-old made his debut at 122 pounds against Stephen Fulton in July and encountered little resistance against the division champion. best.
Tapales was no different even after winning a few rounds (scorecards were 90-80, 89-81 and 88-82 at the time of the stoppage). The question is not: How great is Inoue? It’s: Can anyone even compete with this guy?
Since Nonito Donaire heard the final bell in ESPN's 2019 Fight of the Year, no Inoue opponent has gone the distance. And even Donaire didn't make it to the third round of the rematch.
Paul Butler, who Inoue beat in December 2022 for the undisputed bantamweight championship, reached the 11th round, but did so by carefully boxing from a high guard, as if to present no openings. He lost every round before being stopped.
Tapales actually came in for the win and connected with his sharp southpaw jab and some solid uppercuts, but it wasn't enough to suggest an upset similar to Tapales' previous fight, a victory over Murodjon Akhmadaliev.
Inoue doesn't just beat strong opponents. He dismantles the best fighters in his division even as his weight increases every year. From 108 to 122 pounds, Inoue hasn't met anyone who could hang out with him. And after quickly making weight, he told ESPN last week that he plans to campaign at 122 pounds for the foreseeable future.
Inoue said the first defense of his undisputed junior featherweight championship is scheduled for May, and will likely take place against Mexican Luis Nery. Maybe Inoue will meet Australian Sam Goodman next. There is a rotation system for unified champions, and that is how the schedule is going at the moment.
Both Nery and Goodman are talented fighters. Neither will likely present any real challenge.
Inoue is without peer, a once-in-a-generation fighter who should be cherished when he fights at the peak of his power.
At some point, he'll likely test himself at 126 pounds, but for now, let's enjoy watching Inoue dazzle at 122 while we can. There aren't many like him.
