The chances were always slim. Gervonta Davis vs. Naoya Inoue. Just the mention of this dream matchup was enough to send fans into a frenzy. But now, it appears the fantasy fight, a potential clash between two of boxing’s greatest puncher-boxers, will remain just that: a fantasy. After his win over Ramon Cardenas, questions arose about whether Inoue would move up a division in pursuit of an unprecedented undisputed title in a third weight class.
But with a major test ahead in September against ‘MJ’ Murodjon Akhmadaliev, just after the Canelo-Crawford megafight, Inoue seems to have made up his mind. The Japanese superstar has made it clear that 126 pounds, the featherweight division, will be his ceiling. He has no plans to move beyond that. A showdown with Gervonta Davis, the lightweight champion, now appears firmly out of reach.
Naoya Inoue on featherweight cap: That’s probably enough to go on
The signs had already been there. His recent title defenses, against slickster Luis Nery and the resilient Cardenas, exposed a few cracks in his armor. At 32, an age where speed often begins to wane in the lighter divisions, Inoue’s aggressive, high-pressure style could become more vulnerable against bigger, more powerful opponents.
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN – OCTOBER 07: Champion Naoya Inoue of Japan celebrates defeating Challenger Juan Carlos Payano of the Dominican Republic in round one during the WBA bantamweight title bout as a part of the WBC Light Flyweight title bout at Yokohama Arena on October 7, 2018 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)
In an interview with ‘The Ring,’ the two-division undisputed champion confirmed: he plans to cap his career at featherweight. “Yes, featherweight is my limit,” Inoue said before adding, “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, Inoue admitted it has taken significant effort to maintain peak form. “I’m building muscle one by one, building up my physique, and taking on the challenge,” he stressed. At 122 pounds itself, things hadn’t been easy for the Japanese icon who started his career as a junior flyweight. So Inoue emphasized, “I haven’t even tried featherweight yet, so I can’t think about going higher than that.”
The dream run meets real-world limits
What may have influenced Inoue’s decision to hold back is the realization that his all-action style, once a major advantage, might no longer give him the same edge as he moves up in weight. The featherweight division is already packed with talent. Angelo Leo, Nick Ball, former rival Stephen Fulton, and rising star Rafael Espinoza currently lead the pack.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 31: Naoya Inoue reacts after knocking down Jason Moloney during their bantamweight title bout at MGM Grand Conference Center on October 31, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank Inc via Getty Images)
The junior lightweight division features standouts like O’Shaquie Foster, Lamont Roach, and Emanuel Navarrete, while emerging threats such as Raymond Ford and fellow Japanese fighter Hayato Tsutsumi are also on the rise.
Given how the Cardenas bout played out, where Inoue was knocked down for only the second time in his career, continuing to climb the ranks could carry real risk. Perhaps more significantly, much will depend on how he fares against the undefeated Akhmadaliev. That bout is widely seen as a litmus test, one that could cement Inoue’s legacy as an all-time pound-for-pound great if he wins.
There’s also the long-discussed dream matchup with fellow Japanese star Junto Nakatani. That fight would be massive in Japan and high-stakes for both.
So, what do you think? Is Naoya Inoue making the right call by stopping at featherweight?
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